LONDON - Beyond the glossy exteriors of the 2009 Defense Systems and Equipment International exhibition there is angst over the future of the weapons industry. Defense spending is expected to decline given the poor shape of the global economy and the prospects of government budgets shrinking or reallocating funding to domestic programs.
On the opening day of the show Sept. 8, industry representatives here are looking not just for potential customers but also aspire to forge international partnerships to help them hedge against uncertain market prospects.
The bottom line for exhibitors at DSEi: They are all here to strike a deal. We’ll see just who is buying here as the show progresses.
Attending DSEi are more than 1,300 companies from 40 countries offering up technologies and services spanning the gamut of defense and security needs. More than 26,500 people are expected to attend the show, including military and governmental delegations from 58 countries that have been invited by the U.K. Trade and Investment Defense Security Organization.
A morning tour around the halls and the various country pavilions reveals a range of the usual wares on display, including armored vehicles, ballistic-proof glass, rifles, body armor, protective gear, sensors and robotics, among others. Newcomer pavilions include Brazil, Croatia, Hungary and Portugal.
On the show floor, corporate representatives are busy conducting “demonstrations” of their products. Those offering communications technologies, small arms and other tactical gear, in particular, are popular with the uniformed personnel strolling by the stands.