17 May 2011

The DoD Announcing a Trade Show?

Y'know, I've been to a LOT of these military trade shows, and the new Force Protection Equipment Demonstration VIII sounds pretty cool, but why is the DoD issuing an official press release about a completely commercial trade show? Did you see DoD announcements of IITSEC? SOFEX? No? What makes this one so special?

The Department of Defense (DoD) announced today that the 2011 Force Protection Equipment Demonstration (FPED VIII) will be held May 17-19, at Stafford Regional Airport in Northern Va. The event is intended to increase awareness of material solutions to force protection and counterterrorism challenges for military commanders and first-responder personnel.

Nearly 600 exhibitors will present more than 3,000 items of force protection equipment and systems at the regional airport, approximately 40 miles south of Washington, D.C. The event is not open to the general public.

Force Protection Equipment Demonstration VIII will focus on immediately available commercial off-the-shelf equipment that can reduce or eliminate vulnerability to terrorist attacks against personnel, equipment and infrastructure. Items demonstrated in previous FPEDs have been successfully employed in Iraq and Afghanistan, at military installations and other locations throughout the United States, and at bases, embassies and other critical locations around the world.

The demonstration covers 20 equipment categories, including automated entry control systems and equipment; armored and utility vehicles; biometrics; blast protection/mitigation systems; cargo inspection devices; chemical and biological detection, mitigation and protection equipment; communications equipment; delay and denial technology; explosives detection systems; explosive ordnance disposal equipment; fence sensor systems; individual protective equipment; night vision and optics devices; non-lethal weapons and technology; physical security equipment sensor and surveillance systems; robotic vehicles and systems; unattended ground sensors; unmanned aerial vehicles; vulnerability assessment/analysis software tools, and waterside security equipment.


By: Brant

No comments: