Eurosatory 2008: shaping tomorrow’s defence industry

Jean-Michel Guhl

Monday, 16 June, 2008

As The International Land, Airland and Security Defence Exhibition and with a strong focus on technological innovations, the ninth Eurosatory opens today and runs until 20 June.
Since its launch in 1992, Eurosatory has become the leading international event for land-based defence and security, and with a few exceptions, the entire global defence industry is present at the show this week.
With a record-breaking exhibition area of 120,000m2, this year’s Eurosatory focuses on outdoor live demonstrations as well as specialised conventions and one-to-one customer meetings, including a one-day symposium. One of the most compelling aspects of the show will be the business convention, which will provide opportunities for one-to-one business meetings. At Eurosatory 2006, some 5,500 industrial contractors met to set up or finalise business deals – an opportunity not currently offered at any other current international defence exhibition.
To address more accurately the future trends of the defence industry, Eurosatory has created this year a series of technological clusters that link world-class companies involved in highly specific sectors. Combining exhibits, displays and conferences, these clusters demonstrate their latest innovations and products, each with a coherent theme, described below.
Training and simulation displays the latest demonstrators and devices in the field of armed forces training, based on the digitisation of images and sound, including the use of video games for combat training.
Unmanned aerial systems/unmanned ground vehicles features companies specialising in drones and ground robots. For the first time at Eurosatory, indoor live demonstrations will be taking place twice a day in a dedicated arena. Soldiers’ individual equipment features companies working on the development of equipment for the future soldier, including helmets, goggles, boots, ear defenders, high-technology underwear and other equipment.
NRBC (nuclear, radiological, biological and chemical) welcomes the major players in this technological and scientific field dealing with protection, detection and decontamination.
Night vision has a unique demonstration stand, with a 20m long, 10m wide night-vision tunnel.
Testing and measurement presents recent electronic measurement and laboratory studies and includes mobile laboratories for destructive trials on munitions, tests on the strength of materials and on electronic performance.
Embedded electronics brings together companies with expertise in systems development, software, equipment, self-contained and hardened sub-assemblies for vehicles, drones, tanks and motorcycles.
Finally, for only the second time in Eurosatory’s history, the show welcomes an EU
pavilion that highlights both the European Defence Agency and the overseas operations led by the EU, as well as the anti-terrorist and common security policy.