Leading aerospace companies exhibiting include Airbus Defence & Space, BAE Systems, Bell Helicopters, Boeing, Finmeccanica, General Dynamics, L3, Lockheed Martin, MBDA, Northrop Grumman, Rafael, Rolls-Royce, SAAB, CAE and Thales. The platforms on display will include AgustaWestland's Sea King, Merlin and Wildcat helicopters, Airbus Helicopters' Puma 2, as well as Thales' Watchkeeper UAV, Boeing ScanEagle and the Eurofighter Typhoon multi-role combat aircraft.
The dedicated Air Zone, one of the most popular attractions of DSEI, includes a capability area dedicated to the aerospace supply chain. The zone will host a comprehensive seminar programme reinforcing the show's core themes of capability development, delivery and operations. There are seminars touching on procurement, training, export maximization and promoting opportunities for Small and Medium Enterprises (SME).
The UK RAF will again be participating in strength, led by Air Chief Marshal Sir Andrew Pulford, Chief of the Air Staff. Other high profile speakers include: Air Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier, Deputy Chief of Defence Staff (Capability) and Air Commodore Simon Moss, Director Helicopters, Defence Equipment & Support, MOD; Major General Richard Felton, Commander, UK Joint Helicopter Command; Lt Gen Alexander Schnitger, Commander, Royal Netherlands Air Force, and Rear Admiral Tony Dalton, Head Helicopters, Unmanned Aerial Systems and Guided Weapons Division (HUG-D), Australian Defence Organisation.
Further evidence of DSEI's role as an influential thought leadership platform is provided by a conference to be staged at ExCeL on Monday, 14 September, the day before DSEI begins. Entitled Future of Military Rotorcraft: 2030 and Beyond, the conference will examine the drive to develop military rotorcraft beyond their current operational capabilities, including an in-depth discussion of the US' Future Vertical Lift (FVL) Programme. The event is being supported by UK Joint Helicopter Command, with Major General Felton giving the keynote address.
DSEI Event Director, Duncan Reid, said: “The aerospace component of DSEI has grown significantly in recent years, reflecting the increasing cohesion of air, land and maritime capabilities in the modern battlespace. Examples of the joint nature of modern warfare will be on display. We are delighted by the level of support we are receiving from the procurement, operational and supplier communities around the world”.
