More than 2,500 enterprises and companies have been invited to attend the International Military-Technical Forum ‘ARMY-2020’, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Pavel Popov recently said, TASS news agency reported.
“Over 2,500 enterprises and companies have already been invited to participate in the forum. The exhibition will be set up at pavilions and open-air floors of the Patriot congress and exhibition center, the Alabino training range and Kubinka airfield, at a total square of over 320,000 square meters,” Popov said.
Furthermore, over 130 delegations of foreign states will be invited to take part in the forum, Popov added.
“In order to ensure foreign representation at the forum, we are planning to invite more than 130 official foreign delegations and industrial enterprises. An issue is being considered on the participation of foreign aerobatic teams,” he noted.
In 2019, more than 1,300 Russian and foreign enterprises and companies attended the ARMY forum to present more than 27,000 samples of military and dual-use items.
Next year’s forum will feature special software and hardware and systems using artificial intelligence technologies, a theme exhibition devoted to the 75th anniversary of Victory over Nazi Germany, projects of the Era technopolis and fan zones for the Army Games’ fans.
According to the Deputy Defense Minister, a large-scale scientific and business program is planned at the forum. “One of its key events will be a roundtable on artificial intelligence,” Popov explained. The organizers are working on the forum’s anthem and an official symbol as well as on improving transport accessibility of the Patriot Park near Moscow.
This June, the Army-2019 forum’s opening ceremony was attended by delegations from 120 foreign states, including ten Defense Chiefs, six Chiefs of General Staff, 25 Deputy Defense Ministers, 16 experts and 63 representatives of Embassies in Russia.
Earlier, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that the forum will be held simultaneously with the International Army Games in 2020.
Popov explained that a joint opening ceremony for the forum and the Army Games is scheduled for August 23 at the Patriot congress and exhibition center. On August 24-26, specialists will be working at the forum, while on August 27-29 it will be open to any visitor. Popov did not mention when exactly the games would end. Traditionally they are held within two weeks.
According to the Russian Deputy Defense Minister, about 1.5 million visitors are expected at the forum in 2020.
