Justin WEBB

Black Sea Defense & Aerospace este cea mai mare expoziţie de securitate, apărare aeriană, terestră şi navală din Europa de Est. BSDA 2008 se va desfăşura între 24 şi 26 septembrie, la Romaero Băneasa şi va reuni peste 170 companii din 20 ţări, ce vor expune pe o suprafaţă de peste 25.000 mp. Expoziţia este organizată cu sprijinul oficial al Ministerului Apărării Naţionale, Ministerului Administraţiei si Internelor, Ministerului Economiei şi Finanţelor, Ministerului Transporturilor, Agenţiei Naţionale de Control al Exporturilor şi Serviciului Roman de Informaţii, fiind singura expoziţie din România care a fost recunoscută oficial de Departamentul American de Comerţ, Departamentul American de Apărare şi are sprijinul Ambasadei SUA la Bucureşti. De asemenea, BSDA se desfăşoară sub egida PATROMIL, OPIAR si ARTS.

Washington, DC – August 19, 2008. Following the huge success of the last year’s inaugural edition of the Black Sea Defense & Aerospace exhibition, the 2008 edition is shaping up to be even bigger and better. The second edition of BSDA will be held from September 24-26, 2008 at Romaero, Baneasa in Bucharest and is estimated to feature more than 170 companies from 20 counties, and will occupy an area larger than 25,000 sqm’s.
As with the previous edition, it is anticipated that live demos of modern defense, anti-terrorism and security techniques will be organized by the competent ministries in Romania and are expected to include: demos of the rapid intervention and anti-terrorism special forces, jumping out of helicopters, rappel, demonstrative exercise of the Terrestrial Forces and the HUMVEE presentation, special demonstrations of the Constabulary Special Intervention Brigade, the ACVILA (EAGLE) Special Intervention and Protection Group, the Pyrotechnical Service, the Border Police, and, not the least, the special exercises of the Romanian Intelligence Service.
The exhibition will showcase the cutting edge equipment & technology from the world’s leading manufacturers of defense and aerospace equipment. The 4th Generation Eurofighter already selected by the air forces of the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, Austria, and the UAE, will again be participating in the exhibition, and is again planning air demonstrations with the twin engine fighters being flown by the best fighter pilots from the Italian Air Force.
However, it is expected that in the 2008 event, Eurofighter will face competition from the U.S. manufacturer, Lockheed Martin, who are planning to bring two F-16 Fighting Falcon’s and having these fighters flown into Bucharest by the US Air Force. The F-16 is the largest Western fighter program with over 4,400 aircraft built since production started in 1976.
Both Lockheed Martin & Eurofighter GmbH, are expected to bring their fully operational flight simulators of their fighter aircraft, which will be destined for the training of Romanian pilots should either company be selected to provide aircraft to Romania.
Both simulators will be available for testing within the exhibition.
Gripen / SAAB – Swedish producer of the new generation technology: the multi-role fighter aircraft that is currently used by Swedish Air Force, Czech Republic Air Force, and Hungarian Air Force, is also expected to participate.
Elbit Systems Ltd. is the supplier of the upgrades for the modern aeronautics technology used by Romanian Air Force, also is an international electronics defense company operating in the areas of: aerospace, land and naval system, command and control, communications and many more.
In addition, in a new development in 2008, Sikorskiy Aircraft, the world famous manufacturer of the “Blackhawk Helicopter” are planning to have the new H-92 Superhawk on display. This is a medium-lift helicopter with twin-engines. It is available as a 22-troop utility transport, and in a number of mission-specific configurations – including “Search & Rescue”
Not to be overshadowed, the company Kaman Aerospace, manufacturer of the Seasprite SH-2G-(I) helicopter, which is a United States Navy ship-based helicopter with anti-submarine, anti-surface threat capability, including over-the-horizon targeting, are planning to display the Seasprite SH-2G-A and hold pilot briefings.
AeroVironment also from the US, will showcase the “Raven”, which is a micro Unmanned Aircraft System (SUAS) with over 2,500 units already deployed with the U.S. Armed Forces. The Raven can be operated manually or programmed for autonomous operation, utililizing the system’s advanced avionics and precise GPS navigation.
But the exhibition is not an air show, and although the world’s leading aircraft manufactures are participating, so too are also almost of the world leading land defense manufactures. Some names familiar to almost everyone in the land defense field:
AM General will be displaying the world renowned HMMWV (“High-Mobility, Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle” pronounced “HUMVEE”) These vehicles serve as cargo/troop carriers, automatic weapons platforms, ambulances (four litter patients or eight ambulatory patients), M220 TOW missile carriers, M119 howitzer prime movers, M-1097 Avenger Pedestal Mounted Stinger platforms, MRQ-12 direct air support vehicles, S250 shelter carriers, and in other roles.
Land Rover will be displaying its famous “Defendor”. Land Rovers defense line-up is based on the Defender heavy-duty 4×4 platform, and also the new 6×6 designed to produce greater payload and capacity.
Navistar Defense will unveil for the first time in Eastern Europe the MXT-MVA which will be transported from its “hardcore off-road” mobility trails at the Millbrook Proving Ground in the UK. Various bolt-on modular load bays cab be fitted to the back of the vehicle including a variant built for Raytheon for an eight-missile version of the Surface-Launched Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (SLAMRAAM) with a full blast shield over the cab.
Krauss Maffei Wegman will be displaying the ATF Dingo is which is a heavily armored military truck based on a Unimog chassis with a V-hull design. It is designed to withstand land mines, rifle fire, artillery fragments and NBC-threats. The Dingo’s standard armament is a remote controlled Rheinmetall MG3 machine gun turret. The 7.62 mm MG can be replaced with a 12.7 mm MG or a HK GMG automatic grenade launcher.
BAE Systems will be introducing their “Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles” (FMTV) which is the primary medium support vehicle for the United States Army. Over 50,000 vehicles have been delivered, with payloads ranging from 2.2 tonnes to 11.8 tonnes, and over 20 variants in production. In addition to standard cargo trucks, FMTV variants also include wrecker recovery vehicles, tractors, load handling systems, and equipment shelters, as well as specialized variants for special operations forces. The FMTV also serves as the automotive platform for such high-value systems as the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS), AN/TPQ-36 (EQ-36) counterfire target acquisition radar, and many others. The FMTV maintains some 85% parts commonality across all variants and has the highest readiness rate and lowest operating cost of any vehicle in the US Army. BAE Systems has developed their own armored cabs for the FMTV which have performed with distinction in Iraq. BAE Systems is a global company engaged in the development, delivery and support of advanced defense and aerospace systems in the air, on land and at sea. We have major operations across five continents, with customers and partners in more than 100 countries
Also participating will be the Bumar Group consists of 19 trading and manufacturing companies from the Polish defence industry, specializing in munitions, radars, rockets and armour.
Patria, Finland’s producer of the “Armored Modular Vehicle” (AMV) will be showcasing the AMV which offers the latest technology and highest payload capacity enabling the simultaneous integration of high protection level and heavy weapon system without reducing the mobility of the vehicle.
Panhard from France who have supplied more than 18.000 military wheeled vehicles to over 50 countries will also be participating. At BSDA they will be showcasing their Véhicule Blindé Léger (VBL), which of which they have produced 2,300 units in service with 16 countries which includes 1,600 in service with the French army.
Plasan Sasa, from Israel specializes in the development and manufacture of add on armor systems for the military and commercial market using composite material technologies, and is teaming with Romania’s Roman Truck Company.
Amongst other international producers there will be: Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace, the main Norwegian manufacturer of anti-ship missiles, Aeromaritime SystemBau, the communication technologies supplier for 34 fleets worldwide, Glock, the famous Austrian manufacturer of single hand-operated guns for law enforcement agencies, Terma A/S (Denmark), Vaisala (Finland), and many others. Thales (Air Division) from France will feature, their cutting edge technologies.
Other leading US Participants include: Colt Defense, showcasing their M16 and M4 rifles as well as their 40mm grenade launcher plus their 9mm machine gun. Raytheon, the leading manufacturer of network centric systems and ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance) technology is also a major missile defense supplier with their Sea Sparrow, Tomahawk, AMRAAM Missiles, Patriot missile as well as their Paveway precision guided Bombs.
ITT one of the leading manufacturers of high-performance electronic assemblies for military and space applications including the largest supplier for the U.S. military and its allies of the most advanced night vision equipment available today.
Furthermore, L-3 WESCAM is introducing their EO-IR imaging long-range target detection and identification for border security, costal zones, law enforcement & military security. Harris Corporation will be featuring its Falcon radios that provide secure voice & data communications networks for both military and law enforcement and have become standard with most of the NATO countries. The same is true with General Dynamics which integrates off-the-shelf products to provide custom engineered (C4ISR) command, control, communications, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems. This technology will be of interest to military and homeland security visitors.
The Romanian Navy’s strategic requirement to upgrade her anti-mine capability has attracted Intermarine SPA, one of Italy’s leading naval manufactures, who have built (directly or through licenses) 38 minehunters in 7 variants for six Navies around the world, among which some of the most prestigious: Italy (“Lerici” and “Gaeta” Class, for a total of 12 vessels), U.S.A. (“Osprey” Class, 12 vessels), Australia (“Huon” Class, 6 vessels) , Malaysia (“Mahamiru” Class, 4 vessels), Nigeria (“Ohuè” Class, 2 vessels) and Thailand (“Lat Ya” Class, 2 vessels).
BSDA will also feature most Romanian companies active in the defense & aerospace industries. Manufacturers and service integrators in all the three industries represented at this event include: aeronautics (Aerostar, Condor, Romaero etc.), defense (C.N. Romarm, Electromagnetica, Elprof, I.O.R., Roman etc.), and security (RASIROM, Tehnosys, Avitech or UTI). Also, the National Company Romtehnica will bring added value to the exhibition by organizing business-to-business meetings and discussions with the exhibitors or specialized visitors from abroad.
Black Sea Defense & Aerospace Exhibition is being organized with the official support of the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Administration and Interior, the Ministry of Economy and Finances, the Ministry of Transportations, the National Agency for Export Control (ANCEX), and the Romanian Intelligence Service.
BSDA is the only exhibition in Romania that was granted official certification by the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. Department of Defense and with the support of the U.S. Embassy in Bucharest. Also, BSDA will take place under the patronage of PATROMIL, OPIAR and ARTS.
The BSDA-2008 exhibition is being organized by the American company TNT Productions Inc., a specialized international exhibition organizer headquartered in the USA.