|
Eurosatory 2004 is undoubtedly the
most important global gathering of land and land-air defence
equipment manufacturers. This year, the event attracted some
45,000 visitors and 977 exhibitors from 45 countries. 124 official
delegations also attended the exhibition and its associated
conferences. Among the highlights of the show was focus of the
French Minister of Defence, Madame Michèle Alliot-Marie, to
position French defense industry with leadership positions in
European partnerships, leading to the creation of a genuine
European armaments industry. French Army programs announced at the
show included orders for 72
CAESAR 155mm guns, to
be delivered by autumn 2004, acquisition of the first
FELIN infantry combat
suits as early as 2006, and the production of drone and the
future Air/Land Operational
Bubble (BOA). In the UAV sector, the
French MOD launched the strategic Euromale UAV demonstrator
project, to be developed under the cooperation between EADS,
Dassault and Thales so far active mainly on Unmanned Combat Aerial
Vehicles (UCAV). The French defense budget was increased under a
five year program (2003-2008) addressing the severe maintenance
shortcoming which persisted since 1999 – 2000, contributing to
recovery in related industries, such as GIAT, DCN, SNPE and SNECMA.
Defense Update coverage of Eurosatory
2004 is focusing on:
-
Combat vehicles - including future
combat systems, advanced armor protection,
tank and AFV weapon stations
and ammunition, upgrades and
modernizations, combat engineering and air defense systems.
-
Artillery & mortar systems, including
precision attack and special munitions as well as air defense
-
Unmanned Vehicles - including aerial
and ground autonomous systems
-
Infantry Gear - including weapons,
munitions, protection, personal gear, and future infantry suits.
-
C4ISR - Review of modern Net Centric
initiatives, from battlefield management systems, communications
equipment to satellite imaging, EW countermeasures etc.
|
