The International Defence Industry Exhibition started in Kielce on Tuesday. This year’s fair is defined by the organisers as one of the largest events of its kind. The fair is attended by over 700 exhibitors from 35 countries. The fair was inaugurated by President Andrzej Duda.

The President announced that next year Poland is planning to spend PLN 137 billion on defence – over 4 % of the Gross Domestic Product.

“Today, when we can see the emerging danger behind our eastern border, when we see resurgent imperialism, we know perfectly well, history and experience have taught us this, that there is no price that is not worth paying for Poland to be free, sovereign, independent, and for Poles to be able to live safely”, said Andrzej Duda.

The arms companies are presenting their products in all the exhibition halls and in a tent of almost 3,000 square metres, built especially for the occasion.

This is the second time that South Korea has prepared its exhibition in Kielce. This is due to the fact that the Polish Ministry of Defence has concluded a number of important contracts with its Asian partner. They include the supply of K2 tanks and K9 howitzers, as well as the implementation of a contract for Chunmoo long-range launchers and for the supply of FA-50 light combat aircraft. The first examples of these aircraft were presented at the end of August at the air show in Radom.

Once again, the strategic partner of the International Defence Industry Exhibition is the Polish Armaments Group. At the stand of the home-grown companies, visitors can see armaments that the Polish army is already equipped with and weapons that are still being developed. Contracts were also signed for equipment elements for the second phase of the Vistula programme involving the acquisition of 48 American Patriot launchers, 12 LTADMS radars and a stockpile of PAC-3 MSE missiles.

Arkadiusz Słomczyński