Page 19 - ADT JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2021 Online Magazine

A GBP PUBLICA TION

MORE several participants leaving or can-
celling their visit to the show. But “the
feedback that we had (from the 2020
edition) was that the conversations
TIME TO were a lot deeper... with the time to
speak, the time to interact, the time
to understand what the (different)
needs are," he added.
TALK About 360 companies, includ-
ing major industry players such as
Airbus, Boeing, and Lockheed Martin,
are exhibitors at the airshow, down
from 930 in 2020, according to the
show's website.

Higher defence spending in Asia
and the Middle East have boosted
the outlook for aerospace firms
gathering at the eighth edition of the
Singapore Airshow. The Asia’s larg-
est and most influential international
aerospace and defence exhibition is
expected to produce few big-ticket
deals. Besides fighter jets and mis-
sile systems, unmanned aerial vehicle
(UAV) will be in focus as Singapore
continues to expand its capabilities
by integrating them in missions rang-
ing from maritime patrols to combat
scenarios at supersonic speeds.

Partnerships in Defence
The Republic of Singapore Air
Force (RSAF) has relied on a com-
plex multi-layered air defence and
detection system to protect its
infrastructure. Some of these plat-
“A PARED-DOWN AIR SHOW COULD ALSO forms are supplied by Israel, one of
ALLOW FOR BETTER CONVERSATIONS” its strongest defence partners. The
RSAF is one of the prime users of
This edition of Singapore Airshow, of people coming in, whether it is Israeli air defence systems. It was the
more than anything, will provide a 60,000, 6,000, 600 or six, it doesn't first in the region to inaugurate the
platform for participants to meet in really change the role of the air show Rafael SPYDER surface to air missile,
person, once again. Albeit smaller - it creates a platform for us to talk making RSAF the first in Southeast
in scale than the previous editions, in person." Asia to possess the capability to
“a pared-down air show could also engage missiles, drones, and muni-
allow for better conversations among The Show Resumes tions.
participants,” said Leck Chet Lam, The 2020 air show was held when Singapore is also one of the main
Managing Director of Experia, the the Covid-19 pandemic was begin- users of the IAI Heron 1 and Elbit
organisers of the show. "The number ning to sweep across the globe, and (Chalet N65) Hermes H450. The

ASIAN DEFENCE TECHNOLOGY January/February 2022 | 19