In Kielce, Poland, on Tuesday yesterday the 34th Międzynarodowy Salon Przemysłu Obronnego (MSPO) opened. On the largest defense fair in Eastern Europe by its own account—and in the local understanding of Central and Eastern Europe—this year 1,209 companies from 43 countries are presenting themselves, with nearly half of them from Poland itself. The official partner nation this year is Canada, with around 200 exhibitors. Also, 105 German companies are participating, according to the organizers, on the exhibition area spanning over 49,000 square meters. Last year they were here at just under 38,000.
Notable on the extensive yet compact exhibition grounds is, in comparison with many other European events of a similar nature, the prominence of combat and support vehicles as well as other heavy hardware and “real” weapons. Although unmanned systems, electronic and software solutions are also presented at MSPO. Notably, the reconnaissance and attack drone Gladius II from the Polish WB Group and the South Korean drone defense system KAMD celebrate world premieres here. For the first time in Europe, the Canadian interception drone Inkas Anuri is also on display.
MSPO with numerous combat and support vehicles
Primarily, the domestic and Eastern European industry is represented with new variants of classic weapon systems. According to the fair organizers, the Polish armed forces display on 6,800 square meters 400 tons of equipment, including the incoming main battle tanks M1A2 SEPv.3 Abrams from the USA and K2 Black Panther from South Korea. Polish companies show further armored combat vehicles, including a demonstrator for a heavy infantry fighting vehicle that could complement the introduced Borsuk.
Similarly, the Czechoslovak Group (CSG) presents, together with its subsidiaries, several new products from its vehicle portfolio for the first time. This includes the third generation of the Tatra Force heavy tactical logistics vehicle series in a military 8×8 configuration with an extended four-door cabin for up to six people, and the new armored ground vehicle Tadeas 4×4 on a Tatra chassis. Excalibur Army displays the armored vehicle Patriot 4×4 along with the Alakran mortar system in calibers of 81 or 120 mm.
Strong South Korean and Canadian presence
Like CSG, the South Korean Hanwha Aerospace is also represented with its integrated multi-layer air defense system and its concept for Manned-Unmanned Teaming, along with comprehensive artillery solutions from ammunition to the fire-control network. This includes the firepower-enhanced K9A2 self-propelled howitzer and precision-guided missiles for the multi-launch M239 Chunmoo. With both systems, Hanwha is, alongside Poland, where a third delivery contract for the K9 is currently being negotiated, already successful in other NATO countries as well.
At MSPO, the company also presents the export version of the K21 Next Infantry Fighting Vehicle (NIFV), which Australia has already procured and offered in several European countries. Meanwhile, the partner country Canada showcases, among other things, the Maplewing loitering munition, the Deep Trekker underwater drone, and the Canheat Tactical 2D-EvacCore system for warming wounded personnel in Arctic temperatures. The 34th MSPO runs until Friday of this week. The fair hopes to surpass the visitor record of about 39,000 set last year.
