DSEI 2023, the biennial UK Defence and Security International exposition and conference gets underway at ExCel in London’s Docklands today, reports Bob Morrison.
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Late yesterday afternoon I popped into the venue to meet with industry contacts and to get my bearings as the hall and stand numbering has changed slightly. While there I took the opportunity to photograph Hanwha’s K9A2 self-propelled howitzer, a potential contender for the British Army AS-90 replacement programme, and the BAE Systems Amphibious Combat Vehicle, as bought by the US Marines, on the stand before they became too cluttered once the set builders pulled out. I also had the chance to briefly photograph the new Babcock GLV, based on a Toyota platform, and one of the Project LURCHER electric Land Rover Defender WMIK conversions which the company has been working on; more on both at a later date. Milrem Robotics are also displaying their Type-X RCV, with a Kongsberg turret, and I made sure I got a library shot of that too. Finally, on my way out I checked out the BCB International stand to see their new ULCAT (Ultra-Lightweight Camouflage Tunnel) for the first time, as the team were unable to get it out to MSPO in Poland last week and back in time for DSEI. No doubt there will be plenty more new kit on show over the next few days, so please bear with me if the pace of my web posts drops off a little while I do my best to cover the pick of the new and the interesting for those of you unable to get to Excel.
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