MSPO 2023, the 31st International Defence Industry Exhibition in Kielce next week, is on track to be the largest ever such event in Poland.
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Press Release, Kielce, 29 August 2023: In addition to armoured equipment, Targi Kielce will traditionally feature an impressive set of helicopters. It has already been announced the Robinson R-44 trainer helicopter, AW149 multi-role helicopter, AW109 Trekker, S-70 Black Hawk, APACHE AH-64 attack helicopter, MD-530 light helicopter and CH-47 Chinook transport will land in Kielce.
The 31st International Defence Industry Exhibition in Kielce had already broken all records well before it even started. At the end of August, the exhibition space already amounts to 34,000m², the exhibitors’ list includes 711 companies from 36 countries. For the first time, the MSPO exhibition will use an additional, 2800m². expo hall.
The defence industry representatives from Australia, Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Spain, India, Israel, Japan, Canada, Lithuania, Latvia, Germany, Norway, South Africa, Slovakia, the United States, Switzerland, Sweden, Taiwan, Turkey, Ukraine, Hungary, United Kingdom, Italy, United Arab Emirates and South Korea will join the event held in the Świętokrzyskie capital.
The latter plays a unique role at this year’s MSPO; South Korea is this year’s MSPO lead nation. The Asian partner featured as the Lead Nation at this year’s International Defence Industry Exhibition is a natural consequence after Poland has decided to purchase a large share of military equipment from this country. This year’s South Korea’s Lead Nation Exhibition showcases the equipment that will soon be part of the Polish army equipment. It is worth recollecting that at the end of July 2022, Mr Mariusz Błaszczak, the head of the Ministry of National Defence, approved contracts to purchase a thousand K2 tanks and over 600 K9 howitzers.
The Lead Nation Exhibition, prepared by South Korea, will present the country’s most important achievements in the defence industry domain. The Hanwha company will bring Chunmoo multiple rocket launchers, which will soon be delivered to the Republic of Poland’s Armed Forces, and a multi-purpose UGV unmanned ground vehicle. Hyundai Rotem will show K2 tanks, which are already used in the Polish Army, the K808 wheeled armoured vehicle and mock-ups of defence UAVs and unmanned ground vehicles. KIA Corporation will showcase its KLTV Reconnaissance light tactical vehicle and the hydrogen-powered ATV armoured tactical vehicle. The equipment from SNT Dynamics incudes the mortar system mounted on a light tactical vehicle. Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) will interestingly develop the expo space. FA-50 light combat aircraft, which will also serve in the Polish Armed Forces, and the prototype of the KF-21 multi-role fighter model will be on display.
The largest Polish exhibitor is MSPO’s strategic partner, i.e. Polish Armaments Group and the companies that are a part of the PGZ holding. This continues the expo’s many-year tradition. Following many years example, the Republic of Poland Armed Forces Exhibition is prepared by the Inspectorate for Armed Forces Support – SZ Bydgoszcz. This year’s exhibition is held under the banner of ‘New Equipment – New Challenges – New Opportunities‘.
Space scholarship and important conferences: This year’s Expo witnesses the launch of the ‘Al Worden Endeavor Scholarship’ project for the Republic of Poland, the project’s objective is to encourage young people from our country to work as engineers and space explorers. The project final is when four students and a teacher are selected to participate in a week-long training for astronauts in Space & Rocket Centre in the United States. The scholarship is supported by the Polish Space Agency, Targi Kielce and Kallman Worldwide. Alfred Worden was an American astronaut, the United States Air Force colonel, one of the Apollo 15 mission crew. Colonel Worden was the featured guest at the US Lead Nation Exhibition at MSPO 2019.
‘Space’ is also on the agenda of the debate organised by the Ministry of Development and Technology on the second day of MSPO. The event enables discussion on the development of EU industrial policy, the role of the defence industry, and international cooperation in the industry domain, including the development of synergies with the space sector in terms of economic and defence challenges. Important stakeholders of the European defence sector have been invited to participate in the debate; the panel includes industry experts, political milieus and academia. The discussion offers a platform for institutional and business leaders to reflect on Europe’s defence transformation in a changing security environment.
- The International Defence Industry Exhibition. Save the date for 5-8 September 2023. MSPO tickets can only be purchased by adults. The price of a single ticket is PLN 100, a ticket entitling you to multiple expo visits is PLN 250.
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