A total of 32,169 visitors attended Defence & Security Equipment International (DSEI; ExCeL London; 23-27 September 2013), a rise of 13% on the previous record in 2011.
 
The exhibition featured 1,489 exhibitors, representing 54 countries, and included 40 international pavilions. 97 official delegations from 56 countries attended, marking a 30% increase on DSEI 2011, while the number of VIPs increased by 20%.

DSEI 2013 enjoyed a strong presence across each of its six dedicated zones: Land, Air, Naval, Security & Special Forces, Medical & Disaster Relief and the award winning Unmanned Systems Showcase.
 
Visitors to the Land Zone witnessed Nexter Systems unveiling the Titus armoured vehicle, while Finnish company, Patria introduced its Next Generation Armoured Wheeled Vehicle concept. Air Zone highlights included daily briefings from the RAF presentation team and static displays such as the Eurofighter Typhoon, Merlin Mk II, Wildcat and Spitfire, stationed at the entrances to ExCeL and on the dock edge.

In the Naval Zone, Rolls-Royce unveiled a new design for maritime patrol craft, while the Victoria Dock hosted an enhanced waterborne demonstration program and a record flotilla of 8 warships. This included two vessels from the Republic of Korea, marking the first time that the Korean Navy has visited London since the 1960s.

The Security & Special Forces Zone was expanded fivefold on its 2011 footprint to accommodate 70 exhibitors, while the Medical & Disaster Relief Zone showcased products from a wide range of first-time exhibitors such as Lifesaver Systems, Prometheus Medical and Safe Patient Systems.

The event also enjoyed the strongest ever attendance from UK Ministers and the MOD.Secretary of State for Defence, Philip Hammond, provided a keynote address on the show's opening day. Other Ministers who attended included: the Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology, Philip Dunne; the Minister of State for the Armed Forces, Andrew Robathan; the Minister for International Security Strategy, Andrew Murrison; the Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint; and the Lords' Spokesperson for Defence, Lord Astor of Hever. Michael Moore and David Jones, the respective Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales, also attended.

The MOD also fielded a strong team, epitomised by the attendance of the Chief of the Defence Staff, General Sir Nick Houghton and Chief of Defence Materiel, Bernard Gray. DSEI's expanded seminar programme included significant contributions from an enviable roll-call of senior military personnel such as: the First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir George Zambellas; the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Andrew Pulford; the Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Peter Wall; and the Chief of Materiel (Land), Lt General Chris Deverell.

DSEI welcomed guests from new and traditional markets including high calibre representatives from the Middle East, India, South America, South and Far East Asia, Australasia, United States and Europe.

Nations making their debut among the record 40 international pavilions included Japan and South Korea, clear evidence of the importance that these key emerging players place on DSEI. India, a previous exhibitor, increased its presence significantly, mounting both public and private sector pavilions.

Other newcomers include Chile, which joined Brazil from Latin American growth markets, while the UAE was among the list of Middle Eastern nations at the event.

DSEI 2015 will take place at ExCeL London from 15-18 September 2015.