DSEi 2009 - Showcasing the Latest Aerospace Technologies

DSEi (Defence Systems & Equipment International) is the world’s largest fully integrated defence show covering all the military disciplines including aerospace platforms, technologies and services.

The last DSEi in 2007 saw 26,500 visitors crowding the aisles of ExCeL in London’s Docklands where more than 1,350 exhibitors from 40 countries were showcasing their latest technologies, products and services.

VIP visitors

DSEi, which is now part of Clarion Defence & Security’s portfolio of events, is working closely with UKTi’s Defence & Security Organisation to ensure the show attracts the maximum number of foreign delegations and high ranking senior visitors. The last DSEi saw 77 official delegations attending from 50 countries as well as attracting a number of senior UK army personnel including the MoD’s Chief of the General Staff.

DSEi’s strong appeal to both visitors and exhibitors lies in its ability to consistently bring together the entire defence supply chain under one roof. Whether you are a prime contractor wanting to display the capability of a platform or technology, or an SME design and manufacturing house looking for a route for your products to cross into the defence and security environment, DSEi provides an ideal forum. In terms of aerospace equipment the show brings together companies involved in the supply chain for programmes such as the Joint Strike Fighter and Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft, Future Lynx. The UAV side of the market is also covered both in terms of prime contractors and their supply chains.

Leading the way in innovation

The last DSEi saw the introduction of the Innovation Showcase – an opportunity for small to medium sized defence companies and supply chain contractors to present their new products, services and technologies. These free-to-attend, onfloor sessions proved highly popular and this concept has been reprised for 2009 in a prime location.

In addition to this, DSEi has organised a broad-ranging and practical seminar programme which aims to cover a wide range of topical issues such as exporting to the USA, how to sell to UK MoD and how SMEs can approach introducing their new products and innovations into a defence supply chain. Other sessions include two seminars from Jane’s Information Group, the first looking at global mergers and acquisitions activity and the second analysing the future of the European defence industry.

In ‘Today’s Economy and the Long Road to Recovery,’ Stephen Radley, Chief Economist at the EEF (Engineering Employers Federation), will be talking about the current economic crisis and assess its implications for the defence industry and for manufacturing as a whole - both in 2009 and beyond. Most vitally, he will evaluate the prospects for rebalancing the UK economy in favour of manufacturing and outline what manufacturers and government must do to achieve this.

For companies who want to learn about the export potential for their defence and security products, the London Chamber of Commerce & Industry’s Defence & Security Group is holding a session on ‘Recognising, Financing & Protecting your Export Potential’ featuring speakers from the legal and financial world. All the seminar sessions are free to attend for exhibitors.

Further support for SMEs looking to access defence markets is also provided by the First Time Exhibitor (FTE) Zone. This is highly cost-effective way for new exhibitors to test out the waters at DSEi and reap the benefits exhibiting brings. Nearly 140 companies opted to appear in the FTE Zone during the last show – but many more companies were also first time exhibitors.