IAV 2022, the 2022 edition of the International Armoured Vehicles conference, opened today in London with a host nation keynote address, reports Bob Morrison.
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The annual four-day IAV conference and associated three-day exhibition, which last year had to be held online because of pandemic restrictions but is now back as an in-person event, has attracted military delegations from Asia, Africa, Europe and North America as well as a number of specialist manufacturers and suppliers from around the armoured vehicles world.
As in previous years, we sat in on a number of conference sessions (mostly held under Chatham House Rules) and as the exhibition build process neared completion at the end of the day we sneaked a quick preview of the stands. There is no outdoor marquee for vehicles this year, due to earlier uncertainties over how the evolving COVID situation might impact the exhibition, but around 40 companies are displaying their specialist wares and systems on indoor stands in the main hall. From our brief walk-round it appears that the main focus areas this year are remote weapons stations and unmanned systems. It looks like IAV 2022 is going to be an interesting event.
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