30 Jun 06. AUSA, THE PARTY’S OVER. BATTLESPACE readers may recall that BATTLESPACE made a formal offer to sponsor the British Embassy Reception at AUSA in Washington D.C. for its BATTLESPACE BUSINESSMAN OF THE YEAR 2007 AWARD.
For reason best known to themselves DESO has decided to scale down its presence at AUSA this year and therefore the Embassy event will not form part of the overall activity during the show.
BATTLESPACE sees this as a strange and short sighted decision particularly as the event which has been run in a number of guises for many years is seen as one of the most effective events during the Show.
BATTLESPACE understands that new DESO Desk Head for the area, David Richardson sees the U.S. as a non-core area for defence exports, apart from key big-ticket items such as EH 101. He appears to have overlooked that the U.K. is the largest supplier to the U.S. for many key sub-component systems from the likes of Smiths, BAE, Ultra and Cobham. Also in view of the strong and forthright lobbying by U.K. Defence supreme, Lord Drayson for ITAR restrictions to be raised, a lack of presence at AUSA will send a strange signal.
Rather than cutting back on overall Exhibition attendance, DESO is belived to be spreading its wings to such far away climes as Greece and South Africa, two countries not known for their huge purchases of U.K. arms.
However, BATTLESPACE will be holding THE BATTLESPACE BUSINESSMAN OF THE YEAR 2007 AWARD during AUSA at a venue to be announced. Any company not on our 2006 list is welcome to participate by sending details of any invitees required at a cost of £30.00 per head.
Please also send us your votes for our BATTLESPACE BUSINESSMAN OF THE YEAR 2007 AWARD, who will take over from such prestigious names as Mark Newman of DRS and Ian Stopps of Lockheed Martin UK.
Oct 06. Marriott Grosvenor Square, London. A ONE-DAY CONFERENCE FOR BUYERS AND SUPPLIERS. This year’s Deploying Defence Procurement Conference and Exhibition, which will take place at the Marriott Grosvenor Square, London on 5 October 2006. Every year the UK MoD spends around £14 billion on a vast range of goods and services to equip the Armed Forces and to meet Defence Estate management requirements. As over 90% by number of MoD contracted commitments are valued at £100,000 or less, selling to the MoD is a good new business opportunity for even small and medium-sized companies. This year’s Conference will provide suppliers large and small, new and established with a better understanding of current and future MoD defence procurement developments and initiatives. But how the MoD buys is changing and both new and established suppliers need to keep themselves informed of these changes. In addition to delegate places, we are offering a wide range of promotional and marketing opportunities at this event, including exhibition space, which, as I am sure you will agree, will provide you with an ideal platform for gaining extra exposure for your company. For further information regarding this, please call 0870 270 7066 or email
25 Jun 06. Middle East Business Aviation (MEBA), which had a successful conference debut alongside the Dubai 2005 air show, is to become an annual event boasting a static park exhibition. The new-look MEBA will debut at the Airport Expo Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, home of the Dubai air show, from January 31-February 1, 2007. And the expanded event, to be organised by Fairs & Exhibitions (F&E), the name behind the Dubai air show, has won the patronage and support of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President, Department of Civil Aviation, Government of Dubai and Chairman of the Emirates Group.