Defence Services Asia 2016 opens today and is bigger than ever
Despite challenging times, it seems that the needs of security and defense are still at the top of the priority list for many national and global interests as the 15th incarnation of Asia’s largest defense show opened its doors today to more exhibitors and trade visitors than ever before at Putra World Trade Center (PWTC) in Malaysia.
YB Dato’ Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, Minister of Defence of Malaysia at a walkabout visiting exhibitors on the eve of DSA 2016
For the uninitiated, Defense Services Asia is a biennial affair that sees exhibitors from the world’s premier defense and security companies across the globe showcasing their latest innovations and technologies under one roof in the realms of security, defense, battlefield healthcare, wound trauma treatment technologies, disaster/emergency relief and much more that are both important and relevant in today’s constantly changing threat environment. Essentially, this covers everything from small arms to armoured vehicles and everything in between including drones, planes and the logistics support that keeps an army or humanitarian force functional and mission ready in the field. This year, DSA 2016 has booths and exhibits from 60 countries, divided into different regional pavilions and over 1,200 exhibitors, making it the largest DSA show ever since it opened its debut in 1988.
YB Dato’ Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, Minister of Defence of Malaysia in the AV8 Gempita turret on preshow day on the eve of DSA 2016
DSA 2016 will see a wide showcase of international defense companies displaying their latest innovations such as BAE Systems, Thales, FN Herstal, SAAB, Airbus and more. Malaysian defence companies are also taking the lead with a record number of Malaysian security companies taking part this year such as Destini Berhad, Deftech (DRB Hicom Defence Technologies), SME Ordnance, AVP Engineering, Muhibbah Engineering, Sapura Defence, Zetro Aerospace and more clustered in their own exclusive hall dubbed the Malaysian Defence & Security Hall.
The four-day event was inaugurated today with an opening speech by YB Dato’ Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, Malaysia Minister of Defense who then conducted a tour of the various exhibition halls at DSA 2016. Highlights of the show include a working example of DefTech’s AV8 Gempita (Malay for Thunder) armoured fighting vehicle at the Malaysian Defence & Security Hall and an example of a proposed refit of the Scorpion light tank, a venerable vehicle that has been in service since the 80’s in Malaysia that is modified with a different diesel engine, a 20mm autocannon and a single pin track system.
The DefTech AV8 Gempita IFV with a Bushmaster 25mm autocannon
The prototype Scorpion light tank retrofitted with a 20mm autocannon, a Duetz diesel engine and a single pin track
Another regular and prominent feature at Defence Services Asia are a series of talks covering regional topics of interest such as ‘Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Explosive Preparedness and Response in a Civil Military Environment and Cyber Security in the 21st Century: Threats to the Defense and Security Sectors. The show ends on 21st April 2016 and is expected to see over 34,000 trade visitors from all over the world.