MSPO 2023: One of the largest defense exhibition in Europe.

In addition to armoured equipment, Targi Kielce, the Polish city where MSPO 2023 defense exhibition will take place from September 5 to 8, will traditionally feature an impressive set of helicopters. The display of the following machines has already been announced: the Robinson R-44 trainer helicopter, AW149 multi-role helicopter, AW109 Trekker, S-70 Black Hawk, AH-64 Apache attack helicopter, MD-530 light helicopter and CH-47 Chinook transport will land in Kielce.
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MSPO 2023 will break all previous participation records! (Picture source: MSPO)

The 31st International Defence Industry Exhibition in Kielce has already broken all records well before it even started. At the end of August, the exhibition space already covers 34,000m², the exhibitors' list includes 711 companies from 36 countries. For the first time, the MSPO exhibition will use an additional, 2,800m² hall.

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. This 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 thatwill soon be part of the Polish army equipment. At the end of July 2022, Mr Mariusz Błaszczak, the head of the Ministry of Polish 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 defense industry domain. Hanwha Defense will bring its Chunmoo multiple rocket launchers, which will soon be delivered to the Republic of Poland's Armed Forces, and a multi-purpose unmanned ground vehicle. Hyundai Rotem will show its K2 Blak Panther tank, which is already used in the Polish army, the K808 wheeled armored vehicle, and mock-ups of defense UAVs and unmanned ground vehicles. Kia Corporation will showcase its KLTV light tactical vehicle and the hydrogen-powered ATV armored tactical vehicle. The equipment from SNT Dynamics includes the mortar system mounted on a light tactical vehicle. Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) will interestingly develop the expo space: its 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. 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, whose 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, a U.S. 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 organized by the Ministry of Development and Technology on the second day of MSPO. The event will feature a discussion on the development of EU industrial policy, the role of the defense industry, and international cooperation in the industry domain, including the development of synergies with the space sector in terms of economic and defense challenges. Important stakeholders of the European defense 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 defense transformation in a changing security environment.

Defense News September 2023