Four days of the global Defence manufacture Salon MSPO proved to be an intense time for the planet defence industry. The business event in Kielce was visited by over 28 1000 people, another 12 1000 appeared at the Kielce Centre during the beginning Day of the Armed Forces Exhibition on Saturday 7 September.
The 32nd edition of the global Defence manufacture Exhibition MSPO in Kielce was a key event for the defence industry. The offer was presented by 769 companies, including 416 from Poland and 353 from 34 countries. The largest representations of companies came from the United States (53), large Britain (34), Australia (31), Germany (30), Canada (27), South Korea (27) and Denmark (18). Traditionally, as all year an extraordinary commitment to the preparation of the Kielce event was presented by the Polish Armed Forces Group – strategical Partner MSPO. Thanks to the cooperation of Targi Kielce and PZZ, the event was created, which one more time became the gathering place of the elite of the arms manufacture from the country and from the planet and which met the expectations of exhibitors and guests.
Record number of visitors to MSPO 2024
The offer of the latest technologies, solutions for defence have been met by more than 28,000 people from different parts of the world, 2 1000 more than last year. There are besides 65 abroad delegations from 47 countries, including Australia, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, the Philippines, France, India, Indonesia, Japan, Canada, South Korea, Malaysia, Serbia, the United States, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine, Italy and Bangladesh.
President, Marshal and Minister of National Defence at MSPO
"MSPO has visited many authoritative guests with the president of the Republic of Poland Mr Andrzej Duda at the head. But most importantly, everyone spoke with 1 voice about the national safety of our country. It is besides worth noting that Mr Szymon Hołownia was the first in the past of the Salon Marshal of the Sejm who came to the Kielce Fair for the beginning of the MSPO – says the president Andrzej Mochoń.
As the Marshal of the Sejm pointed out, the presence of the president of the Republic of Poland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence, Head of the National safety Office, many ministers, the marshal demonstrates the importance of the global Defence manufacture Salon. "This is proof of how representatives of the executive authority, besides represented by me, think about the issues of Poland in the same way," said Marshal Hołownia. - We got quite a few work to do today. Safety is value and value has no price. We all, in the North Atlantic Alliance, and in Poland, here at these fairs, in the works in Parliament, in the works in the government, we give proof of this – he pointed out in the halls of the Kielce Fair.
"This year's MSPO is the largest Defence manufacture Salon in Poland. Kielce Fair is an example of extraordinary improvement and is very essential for the improvement of Świętokrzyskie. Let this fair be a large showcase of the Republic of Poland – emphasised Vice-President of the Council of Ministers, Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz.
The event was besides visited by Tomasz Siemoniak, Minister of Interior and Administration and many another ministers, parliamentarians, representatives of the provincial authorities and the city of Kielce, with the president of Kielce Agata Woja. It is worth noting that the head of the MON, for the first time in the past of MSPO hosted not only during the inauguration of the Salon, but besides on the last day of the event.
Contracts for billions of PLN in Targi Kielce
As Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz pointed out, during the 32nd edition of the MSPO, crucial contracts were signed for the sum of about PLN 2 billion. 5 contracts were signed by the Military Agency with the Spanish company Indra Sistemas for supplies of 15 systems, for which soldiers serving military airports are waiting. The value of the contract is PLN 1.1 billion.
WB Electronics will supply the Agency with a set of Miniature Unmanned Air Systems FlyEye. The value of the contract is PLN 24 million. The United States government has undertaken to supply 31 radio receivers for anti-aircraft and anti-missile for medium-range sets of Vistula and short-range Narew. The value of the contract is about $16.7 million. Another key contracts for defence improvement were concluded in the spheres.
The consequence of the cooperation between the Polish Armed Forces Group, Military Communications Plants No.1 and the ICEYE company was the first presentation of the Mobile ISR Satellite designation Platform. This platform will enable the fast transmission of satellite data to the Polish armed forces.
During the 32nd global Defence manufacture Salon, prestigious awards and distinctions have traditionally been presented, which honor exceptional defence achievements and innovative technologies.
DEFENDER Awards on the last day of the defence fair
The DEFENDER awards are awarded for peculiar defence achievements, both for companies and institutions. This year, among others, innovative vehicles, circulating ammunition systems, passive location systems and another modern safety support solutions were awarded. The award is chosen by the MSPO Programme Council, chaired by Paweł Bejd, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Defence. This year's awards were presented by the Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz. The Deputy Prime Minister besides presented a peculiar award to the Minister of National Defence.
Awards were besides presented for arranging fair stands, which stood out not only with aesthetics but besides with functionality, awarding awards in the TOP plan 2024 competition.
During the ceremony, companies celebrating their jubilees were besides awarded peculiar awards, as well as distinctions from key military institutions specified as the Armed Forces Support Office, the Territorial Defence Army Command and the Armed Forces General Command. The gala ended with the peculiar award of the president of Poland.
MSPO 2025 with construction of fresh hall
Shortly after the end of the 32nd edition in Targi Kielce, preparations for the next 1 begin. - Next year we will meet during MSPO in a somewhat different reality due to the construction of the hall, which will start in spring. However, I assure you that you will not even announcement this process, and the Kielce Fair squad will work with double the strength to meet all expectations next year's Salon. And the global Defence manufacture Salon 2026 will be a different communicative – said the president of Kielce Fair Dr Andrzej Mochoń at the end of this year's Salon.
Text: Katarzyna Detka/ Targi Kielce
