The latest technologies developed in the UK

British companies utilizing the most advanced technologies in the defence and security sector have come to Poland to participate in the International Defence Industry Exhibition 2010. Some of them attended this fair in previous years, while the others have exhibited their products for the first time. The United Kingdom willingly accepted the invitation to act as the main national exhibitor this year.

The British delegation was presided by the Minister for International Security Strategy, Gerald Howarth. He is accompanied by Richard Paniguian, head of the UKTI DSO, a UK export promotion organization; Geoff Gladding, regional director of UKTI DSO for Europe, as well as by Air Vice-Marshal Nigel Maddox, chief military advisor to the UKTI DSO. This is the first time that members of the Export Support Team (UKTI DSO) have taken part in defence and security presentations.

"I am very happy about Great Britain having been chosen to be the main national exhibitor at MSPO 2010. I am especially pleased with such a large number of British companies representing a whole spectrum of the defence and security industry. Great Britain attaches a lot of weight to its relations with Poland, with long-term co-operation between our countries in the field of defence being of great importance. Taking this co-operation into consideration, we highly appreciate the opportunity to share with you both our technological achievements and operational experience within the context of a closer industrial partnership and greater strategic involvement," said Gerald Howarth as a summary of the event.

Richard Paniguian said that this exhibition provides the UK companies with a great opportunity to present their defence and security equipment. "We want to develop good relations with the Polish Armed Forces, and we will be happy to offer our products to meet the demand for defence and security equipment in the future. We also want to encourage companies from the UK and Poland to embark upon joint projects. It has been estimated that the global security spending will increase twofold within the next 4 years: from 180 billion to 400 billion dollars. The United Kingdom can successfully face this global challenge by offering its innovative solutions."

Many of the dozens of British companies exhibiting at MSPO have already been supplying military equipment to armed forces in many parts of the world, with some of these products being used in Afghanistan. In the last five years, British companies have received orders on the global defence market at a value of 5 billion pounds annually, which makes the United Kingdom the world's second largest supplier of military equipment, coming after the United States. The UK defence industry continues to be in the lead in the field of innovative technologies, while its successful achievements at the international level show that it is capable of developing and supplying high-quality equipment at a competitive price.

The United Kingdom also boasts significant experience as a subcontractor of defence support services, with British companies operating in such fields as aircraft overhauls and repairs, logistics support, aircraft training, warehousing, distribution and military base management.