Gathering the global defence community

Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI), the world leading defence and security event, will be celebrating its tenth edition when it returns on 12-15 September 2017, at London’s ExCeL.

The biennial event will play host to 1,600 exhibitors from around the world, with more than 34,000 global visitors expected, including military and government officials, academia and members of industry. With just weeks until the event opens, DSEI 2017 is already the most comprehensive edition to date, offering new features, expert speakers and the broadest range of defence, aerospace and security innovation and services.

The DSEI Strategic Conference programme has been enhanced to meet the growing demand to hear from the experts that the event attracts. Taking place on Monday 11 September, at the ICC, ExCeL London, the conference will focus on five main topics: Land Capability, Air Capability, Maritime Capability, The Future of Military Rotorcraft, and Trauma Innovation & Military Medicine.

DSEI’s superior content offering will continue for the duration of the event, with a series of seminars taking place throughout the week in dedicated theatres. Key speakers include Major General Kathryn Toohey, head of Land Capability from the Australian Army and Michael Garrety, Counsellor Defence Materiel - London, Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group - Australian Government, Department of Defence. Officials from the Royal Australian Navy will also be present.

This year’s event will provide a unique opportunity for industry professionals, high-ranking military, and senior government officials from across the globe, to discuss the most pressing questions, requirements and issues facing the defence community. Focusing on policy, strategy, innovation and the implications of future equipment programmes, visitors to DSEI will hear the latest opinions and insight, and interact with the capabilities and state-of-the-art solutions that they can procure at DSEI.

DSEI’s pre-eminent VIP engagement programme will provide multiple opportunities to open a dialogue between the event’s exhibitors and the most senior military, government and procurement personnel that are hosted as official delegations. The organisers currently anticipate a record 250 international delegations will attend.

Unprecedented military and MOD backing
DSEI is held with the full support of the UK government, with Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier, Chief of the Air Staff, will be delivering a keynote address at DSEI on Wednesday 13 September in the West Theatre, located on the exhibition floor.

Commenting in advance of the event, Hillier said: “I very much look forward to continuing my personal support to DSEI. It provides an excellent opportunity to explore the development of airpower capability, through engagement with the widest range of industry and international partners.”

Reflecting the backing DSEI receives from across the Armed Forces, the Chief of the Air Staff will be joined by: General Sir Nick Carter, Chief of the General Staff; General Sir Chris Deverell, Commander, Joint Forces Command; Admiral Sir Philip Jones, First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff; Michael Fallon, UK Secretary of State for Defence; Liam Fox, UK Secretary of State for International Trade; Ben Wallace, UK Minister of State for Security; Harriet Baldwin, UK Minister for Defence Procurement; and Jorge Domecq, chief executive of the European Defence Agency.

Themed Zones
The popular Air Zone, fully supported by the Royal Air Force and Joint Helicopter Command, will feature fixed, rotary wing and unmanned platforms and will 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 promoting opportunities for SMEs. Companies already confirmed to feature in the Zone include Challenger Solutions; The Pandect Group; SABRE Global Services; Ross Aviation; BAE Systems; Leonardo; Lockheed Martin; MBDA; Northrop Grumman; Thales; Cobham; and QinetiQ.

DSEI’s Land Zone, which has thrived throughout all editions of the event, has grown by 52 per cent 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 wide 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, who will be giving a keynote speech in the East Theatre at DSEI.

One of DSEI’s greatest strengths is its Naval Zone. A popular draw for the maritime sector with its unique dockside positioning, it provides DSEI visitors with unrivalled networking opportunities and insights from key decision makers in the Maritime Capability conference and dedicated seminars, and the ability to see first-hand the industry’s latest vessels in action with interactive presentations, waterborne demonstrations and impressive visits by international warships.

The dedicated Security Zone will showcase security equipment and systems to counter priority threats, such as cyber-attacks 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 to increase networking opportunities for both exhibitors and visitors.

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 satcoms. Companies confirmed to feature in the include: Danish firm Weibel; Oshkosh Defense; Teledyne; Gamma Healthcare; Theon Sensors; Gamma Healthcare; Milforce Equipment; and 4C Strategies.The Joint Zone will also be home to the inaugural Innovation Hub, providing a shop window for companies, from a wide range of industries to demonstrate their emerging technologies, demonstrating how innovations, not originally envisioned for defence or security, are now ripe for development to meet future challenges in these sectors.