Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI), the world’s leading defence and security event, will be celebrating its tenth edition when it returns to ExCeL London on 12–15 September 2017. The biennial event will play host to more than 1,600 exhibitors from around the world, along with more than 34,000 global visitors, including military and government officials, academia and members of industry. With a few months to go until the doors open, the 2017 show is already the biggest DSEI to date, and has continued to increase the range of features and exhibitors on the show floor, as well as the DSEI strategic conferences and seminar programme accordingly.
This year, the strategic conferences are expanding to meet the growing visitor demand to hear from the experts that the event attracts. On Monday 11 September, ‘Day Zero’ of DSEI 2017, five conference streams will run, compared with the three inaugural conferences in 2015.
This year’s event will provide a unique opportunity for senior industry professionals, and high-ranking military and government officials from around the world to discuss some of the most pressing questions, requirements and issues across key areas. Focusing on policy, strategy, innovation and the implications of future equipment programmes, visitors at the DSEI strategic conferences will hear the latest opinions and insight before seeing the capabilities and state-of-the-art solutions that they can procure at DSEI.
The DSEI 2017 strategic conferences are:
- Air Capability: The Next Generation
- Land Capability: The Future of Robotics & Autonomous Systems in the Land Environment
- Maritime Capability: The Maritime Contribution to National Prosperity
- Trauma Innovation Stream: Disruption
- International Military Nursing Stream
DSEI will also be hosting Triple Serpent, the UK Surgeon General’s conference, to which the Committee of the Chiefs of Military Medical Services in NATO are invited. This conference usually runs every few years and the surgeon general has chosen to run it at DSEI for the first time.
Following the DSEI strategic conferences, a full seminar programme that is free to attend for all visitors to DSEI will run throughout the event on 12–15 September, with members of industry, academia, media and military discussing a broad range of security and defence matters.
Rule the sky, land and sea
DSEI’s exhibition comprises five themed zones in conjunction with the seminar programme.
The popular air zone, fully supported by the Royal Air Force and Joint Helicopter Command, will feature fixed, rotary wing and unmanned platforms, and include a capability area dedicated to the aerospace supply chain. The zone will host a comprehensive seminar programme focused on procurement, training, export maximisation and promotion of opportunities for SMEs. Companies already confirmed to feature in the zone include Challenger Solutions, Pandect Group, SABRE Global Services and Ross Aviation. Other notable names exhibiting air capabilities include BAE Systems, Leonardo, Lockheed Martin, MBDA, Northrop Grumman, Thales, Cobham and QinetiQ.
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier KCB CBE DFC MA RAF, will deliver a keynote address on Wednesday 13 September in the West Theatre at DSEI.
DSEI’s land zone, which has thrived through all editions of the event, has grown by 52% since 2015. The zone is expected to host an array of notable military vehicles as well as a brand-new feature: the dismounted soldier showcase. This will broaden DSEI’s offering to a wider range of companies displaying current and future land capabilities. The zone is sponsored by NIMR and has the full support of the British Army and the Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Nick Carter KCB CBE DSO ADC Gen, who will be giving a keynote speech in the East Theatre.
Companies already confirmed to feature in this zone include Viking Arms, Hesco, Avon Protection and Supacat. Other notable companies exhibiting land capabilities are Babcock, BAE Systems, L3, Leonardo, Lockheed Martin, Rheinmetall, Thales, KDNS, QinetiQ and General Dynamics Land Systems.
One of DSEI’s greatest strengths is its naval zone. A popular draw for the maritime sector with its unique dockside positioning, it provides the DSEI audience with not only unrivalled networking opportunities and insights from key decision-makers in the maritime capability conference and dedicated seminars but also the ability to see first-hand the industry’s latest vessels in action with interactive presentations, waterborne demonstrations and impressive displays of international warships.
Arranged with the full support of the First Sea Lord and the Royal Navy, the naval zone will also see participation from a broad selection of international companies, double that featured in 2015. It will feature 50 naval exhibitors from 16 nations, including Austria, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, the UK and the US. With up to eight global warships expected as well as a notable line-up of rotary assets operating in the maritime domain, DSEI is confirmed as the must-attend event for the entire naval sector.
New threats, new strategies
The dedicated security zone will showcase security equipment and systems to counter priority threats, such as cyberattacks and terrorism, as well as an enlarged special forces and tactical equipment area. The zone centralises the security sector’s expertise with a bespoke community in order to increase networking opportunities for exhibitors and visitors.
A record number of first-time exhibitors will be showcasing the latest equipment and technologies in conjunction with a catalogue of prime contractors such as Fujitsu, Dell, BAE Systems Applied Intelligence, BT, CISCO and Intel.
Within the security zone, products and services on show range from security and special forces training; tactical equipment; perimeter security covert and overt surveillance and camera equipment; and PPE, with exhibitors including CEIA, Palo Alto Networks, International Armoured Group, Barrett Communications, SFD Global, H Henriksen, Bergans and BeaverFit.
The inaugural joint zone, supported by Joint Forces Command, will feature a broad range of global businesses that provide capabilities across the single services, special forces and humanitarian organisations. Exhibitors within the zone specialise in everything from C4ISTAR, logistics, medical, robotics and Satcom. Companies confirmed to feature in the zone include Danish firm Weibel, which manufactures Doppler radars, Oshkosh Defense, Teledyne, Gamma Healthcare, Theon Senors, Gamma Healthcare, Milforce Equipment and 4C Strategies.
Innovation is a vital element in developing the UK’s economic strength, productivity and competitiveness. The enhanced zone will also include an innovation hub, a new feature for DSEI 2017 that will encourage imagination, ingenuity and entrepreneurship, and host companies that are either new to defence or seeking broader exposure in the sector. The innovation hub is supported by techUK, which will be delivering sessions in the seminar programme on cyberdefence and security, artificial intelligence and info ops.
Another significant hub within the joint zone will be dedicated to medical innovation. Defence and the military have contributed significantly to the development of medical practice and technology. Exhibitors ranging from Philips to CitizenAid will be demonstrating the latest in medical technology and best practice, while the award-winning Defence Medical Services will conduct live demonstrations to showcase innovative capabilities and strategies to save lives.
Best and brightest
The final day of DSEI will be dedicated to one of the defence and security sectors’ key capabilities: people and skills. The day will focus on the key topics of recruitment, retention and development across the two sectors. There will be seminar topics hosted by military and industry, including one by the Royal Navy on ‘How the STEM training of Royal Navy recruits contributes to the raising of technological awareness in society’, while exhibitors will open their stands to discuss recruitment, training, and supporting professionals and their workforces.
Duncan Reid, DSEI event director, says, “At Clarion Events, we are incredibly proud of what DSEI has become over the years. Now one of the most respected defence and security events in the world, DSEI 2017 cannot be missed. The expanded strategic conference and seminar programme, encompassing the most pressing discussion topics across the sectors, will involve key government, military and industry experts, while the increased range of international exhibitors and visitors will provide excellent business opportunities for all attending DSEI. It will once again be the platform to research, procure, and understand new products and services, plus meet and do business with the whole supply chain.”
For more information, visit www.dsei.co.uk. Registration is now open for DSEI 2017. Please register online at www.dsei.co.uk/register17.
