Page 34 - ADT JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2021 Online Magazine

Centre of observers with latest air power in the arse- [ SPOTLIGHT ]
nals of leading air forces and product lines
of Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM).
The indoor and outdoor exhibition space
encompassing a total of 59,400 sqm will host
Attraction hundreds of exhibitors from the elites of the
global defense industry

A CENTREPIECE OF THE EXHIBITION,
THE FLYING DISPLAY PROGRAMME,
WILL ACTIVATE THE SHOW’S
2.7KM-LONG AND 50M-WIDE
SAUDI ARABIA’S FIRST-EVER DEFENCE RUNWAY
SHOW SET FOR TAKE-OFF, OFFERS MAJOR
OPPORTUNITIES FOR GLOBAL AEROSPACE
FIRMS Business as Usual
According to a recent industry report by the
Jay Menon U.S.-Saudi Business Council, the biggest market
for aircraft parts in the region is in Saudi Arabia
– and defence trade shows are serving as a cat-
alyst for this market. At the UAE’s International
Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX) last
year, Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI)
inked an agreement with US defense prime
Lockheed Martin to set-up a joint venture to
domestically produce helicopters, fixed-wing
aircrafts, and missile defense systems, among
other pursuits.

In line with the show’s credo that industry-wide
collaboration spurs innovation, World Defence
Show has expanded exhibitor participation
beyond the traditional circle of defense primes
and majors to include SMEs and start-ups. The
show has put in place a series of tailored net-
The inaugural World Defence Show (WDS) in Riyadh from 6-9 working programs to enable A&D companies
March will demonstrate latest interoperable technologies and – both large and small – to leverage opportuni-
explore future industry trends. In modern conflicts, air remains one ties at every level of the Kingdom’s expanding
of the most critical domains in combating increasingly sophisticated value chains.
and complex threats. To strengthen its military readiness, Saudi
Arabia, historically a major importer of military aircraft and weapons
systems, has turned its attention to localizing the manufacture of Show Attraction
defence capabilities. Furthermore, one of World Defence Show’s
key attractions, Meet the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia (KSA) Government Programme, will
A New Beginning grant international and regional exhibitors
Now, building on a series of milestone agreements signed by the access to Saudi Arabia’s key decision-makers
Kingdom’s General Authority for Military Industries and Saudi to explore opportunities in the local defence
Arabian Military Industries, Saudi Arabia is set to host World ecosystem. Dozens of defence and aerospace
Defence Show – the newest fully-integrated entrant to the inter- giants have registered to exhibit at the show –
national defence show circuit. Across four trade show days from from Boeing to GE Aviation – demonstrating no
March 6-9 in Riyadh, the scale of integration among all five domains shortage of interest in supporting the localiza-
– air, land, sea, space, and cyber – will be brought to life in virtual tion of the Kingdom’s military capabilities. Trade
simulations, static displays and live demonstrations. visitors have until February to register for the
show. Registrants will receive a complimentary
A centrepiece of the exhibition, the Flying Display Programme, multi-entry visa, valid for one year – allowing for
will activate the show’s 2.7km-long and 50m-wide runway to stun connections to extend beyond the show days.

34 | January/February 2022 WWW .GBP .COM.SG/ ADT