DSEI 2017 Announces General Sir Nicholas Carter As Keynote Speaker

General Sir Nick Carter KCB CBE DSO ADC Gen, Chief of the General Staff, will be delivering a keynote address at Defense and Security Equipment International 2017 exhibition on Wednesday, 13 September. The event is expected to be the sector’s most comprehensive presentation of defense, military, aerospace, and security capabilities, when it takes place at ExCeL London later this year. General Sir Nick Carter will be speaking in the East Theater, located on the exhibition floor.

Intelligent Procurement

DSEI’s offering to the land sector is further strengthened by the Land Capability Conference which takes place on Monday, 11 September, as part of the DSEI Strategic Conference program. Led by the British Army, the conference will focus on 'The Future of Robotics & Autonomous Systems in the Land Environment'. Attendees will be encouraged to widen the debate during the open panel sessions throughout the day.

The emphasis on land systems innovation will continue into the DSEI exhibition from Tuesday, 12 September, to Friday, 15 September, with the event’s extensive offering from specialist exhibitors in the Land Zone. In addition, the Land seminar program will follow four central themes: Develop, Deliver, Generate and Operate, and People & Skills, focusing on transforming productivity, army adaptation, and intelligent procurement. Delegates can expect to see speakers including Major General Chris Tickell, Director Capability, and Lieutenant General Paul Jaques, Chief of Materiel (Land) from the British Army.

Combating Unpredictable Threats

General Sir Nicholas Carter, Chief of the General Staff said, “The British Army has a long tradition of being at the forefront of innovative technology—last year’s celebration of the 100th anniversary of the tank is a good reminder. Today, it is difficult to remember a time when the strategic context was more complex or dynamic. The defining condition seems to be one of instability.”

“The pervasiveness of information, connectivity and accessible technology offers new tools to more actors. It is also changing the character of conflict. Adaptation, innovation, and agility will be vital if we are to face the unpredictable threats of the future with confidence. And it will be innovation that delivers the value for money and productivity we need to deliver military outcomes in the current fiscal climate.”

“This year’s DSEI Land Capability Conference gets to the heart of a potential game-changer: Robotics and Autonomous Systems. In combat we face the threat of increased lethality and sophistication, an accelerated pace of operations and an erosion of our traditional military advantage. Harnessing the opportunities brought by understanding and teaming Robotics and Autonomous systems is the path to an efficient, expeditionary, and autonomy-enabled lethal force.  We welcome your help in shaping the future of the British Army and look forward to working together in a new collaborative relationship.”

Exhibiting Companies

The Land Zone will be sponsored by NIMR and companies already confirmed to feature in the Zone include Viking Arms; Hesco; Avon Protection and Supacat.

Other notable companies exhibiting land capabilities are: Babcock; BAE Systems; L3; Leonardo; Lockheed Martin; Rheinmetal; Thales; KDNS; QinetiQ, and General Dynamics Land Systems. The Zone is expected to host an array of notable military vehicles as well as a brand-new feature the Dismounted Soldier Showcase. This will broaden DSEI’s offering to wider range of companies displaying current and future land capabilities.

More information about DSEI Strategic Conferences and Seminar Program will be released in the coming weeks.

Other speakers already announced include:

• Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier KCB CBE DFC, Chief of the Air Staff, will be delivering a keynote address on Wednesday 13 September. 
• General Sir Chris Deverell KCB MBE ADC Gen, Commander, Joint Forces Command will be delivering a keynote address on Tuesday 12 September. 
• Admiral Sir Philip Jones KCB ADC, First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff, will be delivering two keynote addresses.  The first on Day Zero, Monday 11 September at the Maritime Capability Conference, the second as the opening keynote in the Naval Zone on Tuesday 12 September on the exhibition floor.