DSEi 2009: Proving that defence and security matter
14 September 2009
More than 25,000 people attended this year’s Defence Systems & Equipment International (DSEi) exhibition to see a host of innovations created to meet the needs of today’s defence and security sector. Highlights of this year’s show included new blast-protected vehicles, an advanced performance, pursuit and patrol vessel and new mini UAVs. The exhibition featured 1,300 exhibiting companies representing 40 countries and included 27 national pavilions.
DSEi 2009 attracted military delegations from 49 countries, as well as a United Nations delegation. The countries who visited were: Angola, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Trinidad & Tobago, Turkey, UAE, USA and Vietnam.
The exhibition was attended by Quentin Davies, the UK’s Minister for Defence Equipment & Support, who announced the award of a £150m prime contract to Thales UK for Increment 1a of the Future Integrated Soldier Technology (FIST) programme.
Other visiting dignitaries included the UK’s Armed Forces Minister Bill Rammell and Minister of State for Trade, Investment and Business, Lord Mervyn Davies. The First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope and Chief of Defence Material, General Sir Kevin O’Donoghue were two of several senior UK military personnel to attend the event
Popular features included the impressive British Army Export Support Team’s demonstrations, which considered the current realities of 21st century military operations, and the waterborne demonstrations that took place in Royal Victoria Dock outside the exhibition halls. One of the waterborne exhibitors – XSMG World – was showcasing a British superboat, the XSR Interceptor, and took £200m worth of enquiries over the event’s four-day run.The Ships Visits desk was also kept busy organising hundreds of tours on board the Royal Navy’s HMS Somerset and HMS Mersey and the Royal Netherland Navy’s HNLMS Luymes.
Exhibition Director, Sally de Swart, said: “The high level of participation by both exhibitors and visitors at this year’s DSEi underlines the importance that is being attached to countering the emerging threats to world security. The impressive innovation in land, sea and air platforms on display was clear evidence that industry is rising to the challenge. We are already planning for DSEi 2011, which will take place from 13 to 16 September, 2011 at ExCeL.”
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For further information please contact CMS Strategic:
Nick Johnstone / Victoria Bailey
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Email: info@cmsstrategic.com
Clarion Events Limited is the largest independent and one of the top three events organising companies in the country, running exhibitions, conferences and seated events across Britain, Europe, the Americas, Middle East and Asia. Clarion’s business-to-business and business-to-consumer events serve 15 different market sectors includingdefence & security, leisure,entertainment, finance, retail, gaming, fine art and energy. Clarion currently employs a staff of 200+ people in four offices: London (Earls Court); Birmingham (NEC); St Charles (MI), USA and Maarsen (The Netherlands).