Paris puts an end to the lethargy of defence shows in Europe with the inauguration of Eurosatory
Europe is awakening from a long lethargy without being able to hold major international aerospace and defence exhibitions. Fortunately, the obligatory hiatus from mass events required by COVID-19 has come to an end with Eurosatory, the largest and most important defence and security show dedicated to land-based weaponry on the continent.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has spurred politicians' interest in increasing the defence capabilities of their respective armed forces, resulting in defence budgets of NATO nations and many others being increased or in the process of being increased.
Eurosatory opens in the French capital from 13-17 June, when the war unleashed by Moscow against Kiev has yet to die down. At a time when the armed forces of many nations are trying to "draw lessons from the asymmetric combat associated with high-intensity conflicts between states," says Marc Darmon, president of the French Land Armament Industries Association (GIAT).
President Emmanuel Macron will try to take advantage of the Eurosatory showcase to unblock the tripartite programme for the fighter of the future (FCAS), revive the Franco-German project for the new-generation battle tank (MGCS) and try to involve Berlin in the development of the Tiger Mark III helicopter that Paris and Madrid launched a few months ago.
According to forecasts, the 2022 edition is expected to attract more trade visitors than in 2018, when 57,000 people attended. It is also expected to exceed the number of official delegations headed by senior civil or military officials from all over the world, which in 2018 was 227. The show is starting up after the suspension of Eurosatory 2020, the year in which the pandemic forced it to be cancelled. It is now taking off again at the Parc des Expositions in Villepinte, some 30 kilometres northwest of Paris.
European industry dominates, Russia absent
The 27th edition, which is now getting underway, kicks off the aerospace and defence trade fairs of the decade, all international but some more than others. Around 1,730 exhibitors from 62 countries are registered, 23 of which represent Spanish industry, which is coming to Paris with its latest technological innovations and its most commercially successful products and services. But above all with the desire to consolidate its position as a benchmark partner in the global market and to increase its participation in multinational programmes.
The main trends to be seen at Eurosatory 2022 are linked to four emerging areas. One is robotics associated with artificial intelligence, with the presence of more than fifty families of robotic combat, reconnaissance, explosives detection and firefighting vehicles, some of which will be given dynamic demonstrations in a reserved area of 20,000 square metres. A second is cyber, represented by more than a hundred companies dedicated to the production of secure information technologies.
Another important area of new developments is the aerospace sector related to ground forces. Several hundred companies from the European drone value chain are at Eurosatory, from aircraft manufacturers to equipment producers. A fourth area emerging strongly is related to secure telecommunications and electronic warfare. Around 150 companies are showcasing the latest to generate or prevent jamming, neutralise transmissions or shoot down unmanned aircraft.
On an indoor and outdoor exhibition area of 81,300 square metres, the Parisian exhibition focuses on the ground defence sector. At Eurosatory it is possible to see, feel and sometimes even try out the latest in light and heavy weaponry, ammunition of all calibres, simulation systems, logistical equipment and even the airmobile component of ground units, the helicopters. Several hundred new models and versions of tactical, combat and police vehicles of all types and characteristics will be on display.
73% of the companies attending Eurosatory 2022 are from the old continent. French companies predominate, with 650 exhibitors, almost a third of the stands contracted. They are followed in number by Germany (102 companies), the United Kingdom (64), Italy (42) and Turkey (38). The participation of industries from the Baltic and Eastern European countries has increased, especially from the Czech Republic (30), Estonia (16), Croatia (10) and Poland (10). The organisers have ruled out the attendance of any Russian-flagged companies. However, there is a small Ukrainian pavilion, with a stand from the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence and four state-owned military equipment manufacturers.
Strong presence of the US and Israeli sectors
The Spanish defence sector is present in two ways. Most of the companies (18) are grouped under the national pavilion organised by TEDAE, the Spanish Association of Defence, Security, Aeronautics and Space Technology Companies (Asociación Española de Empresas Tecnológicas de Defensa, Seguridad, Aeronáutica y Espacio). They are Arquímea, Centum, Einsa, Escribano Mechanical & Engineering, Expal, GMV, I-4s, Indra, Instalaza, Iraundi, Mades, Nammo, Navantia, Piedrafita, Santa Bárbara Sistemas GDELS, SAPA Placencia, Tecnobit and TSD Internacional. Another five have their products and services on stands located throughout the Fair. They are Falken, GTD, Iberoptics, Plesium and SDLE.
The American industry is second only to Europe with 195 exhibitors, the vast majority of which represent the United States (144), the world's largest producer and exporter of weapon systems. The other 51 companies are from Canada (27), Brazil (18) and Colombia (6). Attendance from Asian countries has declined sharply due to the virtual absence of China. The upturn in COVID-19 has advised the Beijing authorities to attend with only four companies, whereas in 2018 it did so with 55. India takes its place, with 29 companies, followed by Korea (19) and Pakistan (9).
Industries from Africa, the Middle East and Oceania account for 10% of the occupation. Three nations stand out. The first is Israel, with 56 exhibitors grouped in a national pavilion by the Directorate for International Cooperation (SIBAT) of its Ministry of Defence. Alongside the major missile, electronics and aerospace companies - IAI, Rafael and Elbit - there are numerous SMEs specialising in cyber technologies. Australia is bringing 48 entities and the Emirates eight, such as Al Jasoor and Advanced Armour Engineering, which manufacture wheeled combat vehicles and land and naval armour respectively.
Andorra is attending Eurosatory for the first time with Freemindtronic, a start-up that is presenting its EviStealth technology. It allows a gyroscope and fingerprint to be incorporated into a smartphone, and transmit data encrypted with the recipient's passwords "instantly, without leaving a trace and stealthily, anonymously and securely", the company claims.
Global spending on weapons and defence systems exceeded $2 trillion for the first time in 2021, according to a report last April by the Stockholm International Peace Studies Institute. The five governments that spent the most on arms procurement were Washington, Beijing, New Delhi, London and Moscow, whose national budgets together accounted for 62 per cent of global purchases.
SIPRI analysts have calculated that the top five arms exporters in the five-year period 2016-2020 were the United States, which sold to third countries (37%), Russia (20%), France (8.2%), Germany (5.5%) and China (5.2%). In contrast, the main importers were Saudi Arabia (11%), India (9.5%), Egypt (5.8%), Australia (5.1%) and China (4.7%).