London, 16th August 2023

Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) returns to ExCel in London this year from 12th-15th September. The event is set to host prominent companies in the defence field from over 50 countries from regions all over the world. There are 36 country-specific international pavilions.

Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine looks to have influenced the scale of the presence of this year’s international exhibitors, with the event seeing a significant uptake in companies from the Scandinavian region. This comes after Finland joined the NATO alliance in April this year, with Sweden awaiting ratification for its membership.  Placing international cooperation at the forefront, DSEI is expected to host representatives from not only the UK armed forces, but also the NATO alliance and the respective defence and security organisations from nations across the globe.

In the Estonian pavilion, among the exhibitors is Milrem Robotics, a leading autonomous machine and system developer which delivered its flagship unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) to Ukraine last year. Estonia, a key NATO ally, has increased its presence at the event, booking a space three times larger than in 2019 to showcase its industry’s cutting-edge solutions. Similarly, Slovak Republic company KONŠTRUKTA – Defense has to date supplied a number of self-propelled howitzers to the Ukrainian war effort. Making its first appearance at DSEI, KONŠTRUKTA will showcase new products in ammunition and electronic systems.

In addition, the Swedish pavilion will be representing high-tech companies, including Carmenta, who has developed cutting-edge geo-spatial software that enables the visualisation and analysis of geospatial information.

DSEI is also attracting companies from wider afield, notably from the Asia-Pacific region, reflecting the larger effort to bolster defence ties and capabilities. South Korean company, Hanwha Systems, will be demonstrating its wide range of solutions in the defence sphere. Of significance, is Hanwha’s involvement in military reconnaissance satellite programmes and avionics solutions, both of which play key roles in fixed wing, rotary wing and unmanned aircrafts. Its UK subsidiary, Hanwha Phasor, will be showcasing its satellite communications flat panel antenna for undisrupted multi-orbit connectivity.

This year, the North American pavilion welcomes more 225 companies that encompass a broad span of cross-domain capabilities, from unmanned aerial systems to fire suppression systems to lightweight protective armour. Over 90 of the companies will be exhibiting for the first time proving that the US and Canada is a serious growth market for DSEI. Outside the North American pavilion, household North American defence companies will also be exhibiting such as Northrop Grumman, L3Harris and Raytheon.

With a strong international presence, DSEI offers possibilities for companies across the world to establish meaningful relationships and collaborate with Governments, suppliers and industry – both SMEs and large organisations.

Grant Burgham, DSEI Director, commented:  

“It is hugely encouraging to have so many international companies in attendance at this year’s DSEI. DSEI offers a valuable opportunity in the biennial defence trade show calendar to connect UK companies and their international counterparts, promoting cooperation and bi-lateral trade with international allies. Cooperation is a crucial component in stimulating technological advancement, and by giving companies from all over the globe this platform, it will no doubt further our own capabilities as a nation and those of our allies”.

www.dsei.co.uk

Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) returns to ExCeL in London this year from 12-15 September. Attracting leading companies from the UK and abroad, DSEI will feature the latest advances in land-based technology including new capabilities in high-mobility defence vehicles, lightweight-but-durable armour and respiratory equipment to support armed forces in specialised environments.

Since the start of the Ukraine conflict, the UK has given assistance by supplying Ukrainian forces with equipment such as Challenger 2 tanks (Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land), Mastiff patrol vehicles (General Dynamics) and the highly effective, NLAW light anti-tank weapons (Saab). All the organisations that developed this equipment will exhibit at DSEI.

Supporting Ukraine however goes further, and the British Army has been training Ukrainian soldiers in the UK, with approximately 10,000 people being trained every 120 days. At DSEI, the UK Army will focus on how the implementation of technology can enhance not only military capabilities but also how it can be used to efficiently train forces now and in the future.

The Land Zone is supported by the British Army, which will use DSEI to explore the latest innovations in the Land domain. The Zone will host 73 innovative exhibitors, each showcasing standout solutions to the shifting challenges that modern warfare presents.

Notable companies such as Mercedes Benz Trucks UK will attend for the first time in 12 years. The company is set to showcase its high-mobility defence trucks, tailor-made to meet specific operational or environmental parameters, including its Mercedes-Benz Zetros, an off-road truck for extreme operations.

In addition to well-known names, DSEI will host many hundreds of specialist providers of platforms, products and services. For example, Avon Protection develops market-defining technologies, which protect over 3.5 million users every day across the British Armed Forces and military/first responders in more than 60 countries worldwide. Its mission-critical Chemical, Radiological, Biological, and Nuclear (CBRN) protection solutions represent the best of British technology innovation and will be on display alongside its full range of Team Wendy ballistic head protection systems.

Speaking on the event Grant Burgham, DSEI Director, commented:  

“We are grateful to the British Army for its steadfast support of the Land Zone at DSEI 2023. It is a key platform to see first-hand the latest developments and innovations from both UK and international exhibitors. In addition to companies within the zone, it’s great to see companies from the land domain across the DSEI floor space with Saab, Rheinmetall and Thales all planning a significant presence.”

Rear Adm (Ret’d) Jon Pentreath, DSEI Senior Military Adviser (Land) said:

“The war in Ukraine has increased the urgency of modernising the UK’s land forces, ensuring that combined arms warfare can be fought effectively.  This is not all about mere platforms or numbers of soldiers, but includes strengthened stockpiles, true readiness and a resilience in the supply chain that will allow for a sustained use of force. The Army’s response to these challenges will be on full display at DSEI 2023, not only on the show floor but importantly also in the conceptual space in the keynote addresses and other conference sessions.

“The British Army will focus on the Land Operating Concept and being a net contributor to the multi-domain enterprise at DSEI. This will be viewed through the lens of delivering the capabilities we need now and, in the future, and on continuing to build the broad alliances to protect our vital national and international interests.”

www.dsei.co.uk

“It is important to highlight the work towards Achieving an Integrated Force as we continue to drive for a stronger, more competitive industry, procuring the right equipment for our people at the right price and at the right time – promoting collaboration between allies and partners as well as supporting British industry to thrive in the international exports market” – Minister for Defence Procurement, The Rt Hon Alec Shelbrooke MP

The overarching theme for the DSEI 2023 event has been announced as ‘Achieving an Integrated Force’. The UK Ministry of Defence and the British Army, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force, UK Space Command, UK Strategic Command, and UK Defence and Security Exports are working to integrate at all levels and across five operational domains of Air, Cyber and Electromagnetic Activities (CEMA), Land, Sea and Space.

Building on the DSEI 2021 theme of ‘Integrated Response to Future Threats’, it is evident that an integrated force can only occur through culture, a trained workforce, data and technology. In UK Strategic Command, the Digital Backbone strategy seeks to provide the authority and capacity to act as Defence’s integrator and enable multi-domain and multi-nation integration.

To achieve an integrated force, supply-chains need to be understood and strengthened, thus creating an unbreakable cohesion between military and industry. This can be accomplished by utilising the expert knowledge of the civil and private sectors to take full advantage of cutting-edge technology and skills. All of this, combined, will lead to a strategic defence force that can transition from large, centralised, unhardened infrastructure to smaller, dispersed, resilient and adaptive modules that can include both passive and active defences.

The current and future operating environment will be characterised by increasing challenges below the threshold of traditional warfare. Changing battle narratives and the increasing use of non-lethal means to influence or secure objectives mean that coercive warfare has come of age. It is a new era where challenge will be in the real, virtual and cognitive worlds; partners and allies must be prepared.

Speaking to this theme, a video exclusive featuring the highest levels of MOD and military stakeholders has been launched.

Listen here to General Patrick Sanders (Chief of the General Staff, British Army) Air Marshal Sir Richard Knighton (Deputy Commander Capability, RAF) Vice Admiral Martin Connell (Second Sea Lord, Royal Navy), Lieutenant General Tom Copinger-Symes (Deputy Commander, UK Strategic Command).

Minister for Defence Procurement, The Rt Hon Alec Shelbrooke MP, said:

“In an age of increasing global competition, DSEI 2023 will bring the key players together to ensure that we’re constantly moving forward alongside our Armed Forces and industry partners.

“It is important to highlight the work towards Achieving an Integrated Force as we continue to drive for a stronger, more competitive industry, procuring the right equipment for our people at the right price and at the right time – promoting collaboration between allies and partners as well as supporting British industry to thrive in the international exports market.”

Grant Burgham, DSEI Director, said:

“Having the theme announced for DSEI 2023 is a significant step as we look forward to the show only twelve months away. DSEI is the premier event of its kind and is crucial in bringing together the UK Government, armed forces and industry.

“For 2023, we fully expect to be back at pre-pandemic levels of attendees, with contribution from over 2,800 DSEI & DSEI Connect defence and security suppliers, and 31 international pavilions across the exhibition space. We are immensely proud of the platform we provide the international defence and security industry, enabling it to demonstrate its expertise and capabilities across a live and digital audience.”

Held biennially, DSEI connects governments, national armed forces, industry thought leaders and the global defence and security supply chain on an unrivalled scale. The event is curated to consistently support both the prime contractors as well as small and medium-sized enterprises while, crucially, giving UK exports a significant boost.

DSEI will take place at ExCeL London 12-15 September 2023.