Article Posted on : - Apr 12, 2011

RIO DE JANEIRO (BNS): Brazil will play host to over 600 exhibitors from across the globe when it opens the eighth edition of the Latin America Aero & Defence (LAAD), the largest defence exhibition in the region, in Rio de Janeiro Tuesday.

With the Latin American region occupying the top spot in military spending last year according to a latest report, global defence firms will jostle to grab a fair share of the pie during the international event.

The biennial international show on defence and security will see participation of 55 delegates from 53 countries and around 24,000 visitors.

The 600 exhibitors will display a wide range of cutting-edge military products including aircraft, UAVs, land vehicles, artillery, naval vessels, missiles, weapon systems, satellite navigation among others at the defence show.

The previous edition of LAAD in 2009 was attended by 18,200 visitors, 336 exhibitors, and 93 Brazilian defence companies.

According to the latest report on international military expenditures released by Swedish think-tank SIPRI, the region with the highest increase in military spending last year was South America with 5.8 per cent growth in real terms, reaching a total of $63.3 billion.

The defence show will also be significant as Brazil is seeking to buy 35 new fighter aircraft for its air force worth an estimated value of $4 billion to $7 billion. The country is yet to pick any one of the three contenders – Dassault Aviation’s Rafale (France), Saab’s Gripen NG (Sweden), and Boeing’s F/A-18 Super Hornet (US).

LAAD, supported by the Brazilian Defence Ministry, will also be an important trade event for the defence and security industry in Latin America which has witnessed growth in recent years.

The leading global defence firms participating in the four-day event include Boeing, BAE Systems, BrahMos Aerospace, DCNS, Embraer, Finmeccanica, HAL, Lockheed Martin, Navantia, Northrop Grumman, Rosobotonexport, Saab, Sukhoi and Thales, among others.