News

- This year's exhibition at Targi Kielce attracted a record-breaking number of exhibitors - 769 companies from 34 countries, including the largest representations from the USA - 53 companies, Great Britain - 34, Australia - 31, Canada - 30, Germany - 28 and South Korea - 27. Ukraine is the special guest of the expo;  MSPO is a unique event that brings together the best specialists, innovators and leaders of the defense industry from around the world. – emphasised the president of Targi Kielce, Doctor Andrzej Mochoń on the first day of the exhibition.

Opening ceremony under the banner of NATO

32nd International DefenCe Industry Exhibition is held under the banner of Poland's anniversary of NATO anniversary. Therefore, in the speeches we heard at Targi Kielce on the first day of the exhibition, Poland's role in the North Atlantic Alliance was frequently mentioned. The situation beyond the eastern border also prompts us to consider this issue.

This year's MSPO's opening followed its many-year tradition - the President of the Republic of Poland's address. In his speech, Andrzej Duda emphasised the importance of defence spending – he devoted a significant part of his speech to this issue.

- On the one hand, we behave as if no one would come to our aid because we believe that we are primarily responsible for our own safety;  but today we are confident that our allies in the North Atlantic Alliance stand by us. We take confidence in the statements of successive presidents of the United States – most recently, [we have been assured] several times by President Joe Biden  that every inch of Alliance land will be defended. We believe that we are a reliable ally, and that is why we show our allies that we take security responsibly.  We want to ensure our security. We are also aware that we are a large country in our part of Europe, i.e. in Central Europe. We are a strategically located country. The country with a narrow isthmus of land connecting the Baltic states with the rest of the North Atlantic Alliance and the European Union. The country that has the first so-called strategic dimension in this part of the North Atlantic Alliance's eastern flank. The country that takes its obligations, its place and its size responsibly which befits the North Atlantic Alliance, the European Union scale and is responsible to its allied countries. That is why we incur these expenses. We do it to protect ourselves aganst war – emphasised the President of the Republic of Poland in his speech.

The opening of the defence expo was graced with the presence of the Speaker of the Sejm - for the first time in the event's thirty-puls-year history. Szymon Hołownia referred to the role that the Kielce expo plays in creating the Polish security system.

- We are at the trade fair. One could say that trade fairs are about price, but safety has no price, tag because safety is a value. And values have no price tags. Today, we are in a place where not only transactions are made. Although transactions are important, I deeply believe that this is, first and foremost, the place where the security ecosystem is enhanced. Not only will expo encompass the arms industry, not only the Polish army, but above all those whom we represent in parliament, as the parliament members represent citizens of the Republic of Poland. They are the ones we should first and foremost think about today, their safety is the most important thing at stake today. – noted the Speaker of the Sejm.

THe catalogue of Polish defence equipment

"The Polish Defence and Security Equipment Catalogue" premiered on the first expo day. The publication was presented by the Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz and the head of the National Security Bureau, Minister Jacek Siewiera;

the catalogue was created through cooperation between the Ministry of National Defence, the National Security Bureau, and companies from the domestic defence sector. The Polish Defence and Security Equipment Catalogue includes many products which utilise advanced technologies and solutions created by Polish enterprises.

What products are there in the catalogue? Primarily electronics, cybersecurity, armoured vehicles and artillery systems, weapon systems, aviation and space industries, air defence, and anti-missile defence. This is a wide range of solutions, which demonstrates Poland's significant position in defence and security. The catalogue includes over 200 products from 61 Polish manufacturers.

Many important contracts which enhance defense

Minister of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz signed the agreement to the contract with the United States government to deliver radio data exchange terminals. The contract covers the delivery of 31 radio receivers for anti-aircraft and anti-missile systems, intended for the medium-range Wisła and short-range Narew systems, in 2026-2027. The value of this contract is approximately $16.7 million;

the Minister of National Defense handed over the contract to the head of the Armaments Agency, Brigadier General Artur Kuptel.

MSPO witnessed the contract signing the supply of 90 Hiab heavy-duty cranes mounted on Jelcz trucks, worth PLN 384 million, which will be implemented in 2025-2028. Waldemar Markiewicz, President of the Jelcz management Board, and Brigadier General Artur Kuptel, head of the Armaments Agency, signed the agreement.

The contract concluded between Rosomak and the Armaments Agency covers the years 2024 - 2026. The agreement covers development work and the delivery of 348 contamination detection systems intended for installation on Rosomak wheeled armoured personnel carriers in combat and specialist versions. The delivery will be carried out in 2027-2030, and the contract value is PLN 316 million.

 Uniformed classes roll-call 

The first day of MSPO follows the many-year tradition, a roll call of students from uniformed classes. This was also the case of 2024 MSPO. The inauguration of the new school year was attended by the Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz;  several hundred young people who linked their future with the army gathered on the parade ground. In the whole of Poland, there are almost 30,000 cadets. They study in 1,200 uniformed classes.

The next days of the exhibition are ahead of us

The trade show continue until 6 September 2024. The MSPO Open Day - 7 September  2024.

/EŁ/