Three major aerospace companies that derive most of their turnover from the defense business, and that gave the Paris Air Show a miss last month, have taken hospitality chalets at the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) at RAF Fairford in the UK next week. BAE Systems, Northrop Grumman and Saab are among 32 aerospace companies that will entertain guests at the show, which has grown over the years from a purely public spectacle at a rural airbase into a major annual networking event for air staffs and their potential suppliers. Another forthcoming British defense show, September’s Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) in London, is also reporting increased interest, with exhibitors from 50 countries booked to appear.
With Britain’s defense budget under continuing pressure, it is clear that these companies do not invest in RIAT and DSEI merely to reach their UK customers. Rather, they expect to reach a global audience of potential buyers. For instance, 48 air chiefs attended last year’s RIAT, along with 1,400 other military personnel and more than 6,000 corporate guests. A spokesman for RIAT told AIN that 45 senior international military delegations will attend this year, alongside UK government officials, service chiefs, and defense program directors. The last DSEI, held in 2013, attracted more than 32,000 visitors from 121 countries, including 158 programmed delegations.
DSEI does not admit the general public during its four days, but RIAT last year boasted 140,000 paying visitors over its three-day show. This year, all available tickets for weekend admission to RIAT have sold out much earlier than previously, with only a few left for the Friday. Some 200 aircraft from 25 air arms are scheduled to appear, with many taking part in the six-hour flying display. They include the Kawasaki P-1 maritime patrol aircraft (MPA), making its first appearance outside Japan. No doubt also eyeing the same potential British requirement for a new MPA, Boeing is sending its Challenger MSA demonstrator, and the U.S. Navy will fly a Boeing P-8A Poseidon MPA into RIAT for static display.
DSEI is held at the purpose-built ExCel exhibition center in London’s docklands, allowing naval vessels to tie up alongside, and waterborne demonstrations to be mounted. The show is organized by Clarion Events, whose director Duncan Reid said that at least eight warships will be available for inspection this year, plus four helicopters and two UAVs. He said that 40 international pavilions will house some of the more than 1,500 exhibitors that have signed up for the show. He told AIN that DSEI’s claim to be the “world-leading defense and security event” is based on its tri-service appeal unlike, for instance, the separate land, sea and air-focused shows that take place in France.
