For 27 years, the September-held International Defence Industry Exhibition has been the presentation platform for defence industry companies from all corners of the world. Not only is this a comprehensive presentation arena for military equipment, MSPO also facilitates business meetings.
Read more: Foreign and security policy issues were discussed in the Ukrainian Defence Ministry with a representative of the European Union
This is also the place where important contracts are signed. MSPO is comes third in the rankings of Europe’s largest exhibition of this kind, right after the Paris and London military trade shows. This year’s MSPO is held from 3 to 6 September. 2019’s MSPO is held under the banner of the United States as the Expo Lead Nation and the 20th anniversary of the Armed Forces Exhibition. The Polish Armaments Group is MSPO's Strategic Partner. MSPO 2019 has been granted the Honorary Patronage of President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda, who also opend the expo.
It is worth recalling last year's success of MSPO and its accompanying International Logistics Fair LOGISTICS, a part of the military expo cluster for 25 years. The Targi Kielce Defence Industry Expo brought 625 companies from 32 countries, exhibitors used 27,000 square meters in the 7 exhibition halls of the Kielce exhibition and congress centre and in its outdoor expo grounds. The 2018 exhibition showcased a record-breaking number of helicopters. The expo hosted 53 official delegations from 46 countries, the President of Poland Andrzej Duda visited the expo for the third time already. MSPO was the meeting platform for 34,106 visitors from all over the world.
What is on display at 2019's MSPO?
2019’s Defence Industry Expo is also a full house - all 7 expo halls of the Kielce exhibition and congress centre as well as the outdoor exhibition grounds will be packed with the cutting-edge military equipment. 607 companies from 31 countries have already confirmed their presence, foreign companies account for 51% of MSPO exhibitors. Polish and global defence industry leaders’ expo stands showcase helicopters, armoured equipment and rockets, explosives, chemical troops equipment and materials, complemented with armaments and aviation equipment, air- systems indispensable for air defence forces and the navy. Following the previous years’ example, a comprehensive offer for the Police forces, for the Border Guards as well as search and rescue units are also on display. The companies which offer cutting-edge communication technologies, radio-electronic equipment and optoelectronics also showcase at 2019’s MSPO. Food stuffs, uniforms, medical equipment and supplies are also an important part of expo presentations.
Top Level Defence
The Kielce expo continues its many year tradition; MSPO has been visited by high-ranking foreign delegations. The exhibition hosts representatives of ministries and armed forces from around the world. They come to Kielce at the invitation of the Minister of National Defence. It has already been confirmed that this year’s expo is to host representatives of Afghanistan, Angola, Saudi Arabia, Armenia, Australia, Bangladesh, Belarus, Brazil, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Egypt, Finland, Philippines, France, Iraq, Israel, Kazakhstan, Korea, Lithuania, Latvia, Mexico, Moldova, Germany, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Rwanda, Senegal, Slovakia, Switzerland, Sweden, Ukraine, USA, Uzbekistan, Hungary, Great Britain, Vietnam and the European Defence Agency (EDA). The US ambassador to Poland Georgette Mosbacher will grace MSPO 2019 with her presence.
The International Defence Industry Exhibition boasts many-year tradition - Lead Nations' Exhibitions have been a part of the Expo since 2004. Until now 13 countries have presented their military potentials: Germany, Norway, France, Israel, Turkey, the USA, Sweden, the V4 Member Countries, Great Britain, Italy and South Korea. The United States of America is the MSPO lead nation - Colonel Alfred Merrill Worden is the US Exhibition’s featured guest. Worden is the American astronaut, the United States Air Force colonel, one of the Apollo 15 mission crew. Colonel Al Worden, a crew member of Apollo 15 will be meeting Kielce youth and students apart from his official MSPO visit. The hit of this year's US Lead Nation Exhibition is the F-35 fighter model, the Polish government intends to buy F-35 jet fighters.
The first day of the exhibition features a spectacular flight of American army aircraft over the expo grounds. In the sky above the expo centre its guests will be able to see: F-15 fighters, the most modern multi-purpose marine aircraft - Boeing P-8 Poseidon. The sky-high show will be complemented with the KC-135 tanker used for airplane refuelling.
20th Anniversary of the Armed Forces exhibition and the Open Day
Every year more than 1,000 soldiers prepare and execute the Armed Forces Exhibition. This year the Polish Army show, the event which has become an inherent and permanent part of MSPO celebrates its 20th anniversary. To mark the occasion, the Expo Open Day is held on 7 September. Following the previous two years’ MSPO example, the Open Days is the event designed to present the Polish army potential to a wide audience, build national identity and educate visitors about patriotic values. For the first time, the US Army will be a part of the Open Day. A Chinook helicopter will also be on display, too.
Read more: President: Joint Efforts 2020 exercises show highest level of Ukrainian military
