15 Jan 15. DSEI to showcase land, sea and air capabilities to defend sovereign rights. The defence of sovereign rights is a major challenge for a significant number of nations as regional tensions flare up and new threats appear. The need for military and security forces around the world to procure the platforms, systems and equipment that meet operational and budgetary imperatives is highlighted by the continued growth of Defence & Security Equipment International (DSEI), the world’s largest land, sea and air defence and security exhibition. The event, which takes place at ExCeL London from 15-18 September 2015, will feature a record 1500 + exhibitors providing a global showcase of innovation. Reflecting DSEI’s status as a premier forum for international co-operation and thought leadership, senior military commanders will be sharing their views on how doctrine and capabilities must be shaped to meet the demands of an uncertain future. The British Army will have a prominent presence at the show. Lt Gen Mark Poffley, Commander Force Development and Capability said, ‘Recent events have highlighted the need for an integrated and persistent security response across a wide spectrum of operations. The British Army is reconfiguring to meet the challenges of the contemporary security environment. An important part of this adjustment is establishing a close relationship with its industrial partners, seeking out innovative and relevant solutions as part of the Defence Growth Partnership and exploiting mutually beneficial agendas to defeat those who threaten our security.’ The land systems display at DSEI 2015 will be of record size, with some 700 prime contractors and small and medium-sized enterprises representing the majority of nations with defence and security industries. Exhibiting companies, who will be sited in the expanded Land Zone and around the exhibition halls, include BAE Systems, Denel, General Dynamics Land Systems, Iveco, Jankel, Lockheed Martin, Nexter, Oshkosh, Patria, Raytheon, Streit and Supacat. DSEI 2015 will also feature its strongest aerospace offering, with exhibitors including Airbus Defence and Space, Boeing, BAE Systems, General Dynamics, L3, MBDA, Rafael, Rolls-Royce, SAAB and Thales. Platforms expected to be displayed include Apache, Chinook, Merlin, Sea King and Wildcat helicopters. Unmanned systems will also be prominent, with a broad spectrum of exhibitors including: Boeing Insitu, Northrop Grumman – who will feature the Global Hawk – iRobot and QinetiQ. The ability to host visiting warships adjacent to the exhibition halls is a major contributor to DSEI’s unique role as an integrated showcase of defence and security capabilities. DSEI 2013 played host to an impressive flotilla of visiting warships and waterborne demonstrations, as well as showcasing a wide spectrum of technology and equipment providers. A similar display of maritime power and innovation is being developed for DSEI 2015. Security has become firmly established as the fourth pillar of DSEI. The 2015 event will see focus on critical areas of security, such as biometrics, cyber warfare, CBRN and counter terrorism. There will also be a Security and Special Forces zone with briefings by leading experts and capability demonstrations. Major suppliers who will be exhibiting include BAE Systems Applied Intelligence, CISCO, Cobham, Fujitsu, Lockheed Martin and Smiths Detection. Rear Admiral Simon Williams, Chairman of DSEI organisers Clarion Defence and Security, said, ‘The threats to world order today are diverse and range from high tech cyber-attack to that posed by the ‘lone wolf’. There has never been a greater need for an integrated approach to the acquisition and deployment of defence and security assets in the land, air and maritime environments – and to the rationale that guides them. DSEI 2015 will provide a platform that meets all these imperatives.’