Bridex to display state-of-the-art system

THE Brunei Darussalam International Defence Exhibition (Bridex 2009), which will be held from August 12 to 15, 2009, will feature state-of-the-art defence and security equipment currently available in today's world market.

One of the exhibitors is MBDA, a leading missile manufacturer with operations in France, Germany, Italy and Britain. It was formed as a result of the 2001 merger of Aérospatiale-Matra Missiles (of EADS), Alenia Marconi Systems' missile divisions and Matra BAe Dynamics.

MBDA's products include air-to-air missiles, surface-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles, anti-ship missiles, anti-tank missiles and systems.

One of the company's products is the Exocet missile. Development began in 1967 as a ship-launched missile named MM38. The air-launched Exocet was developed in 1974 and entered service with the French Navy five years later. The missile is designed to hit large warships.

It was during the Falklands War in 1982 that the Exocet caught the attention of the world when Argentine Navy Exocet-equipped Super Etendard warplanes sank the British Royal Navy destroyer HMS Sheffield and the 15,000-tonne merchant ship Atlantic Conveyor.

The Exocet has been manufactured in a number of versions, including MM38 (surface-launched), AM39 (air-launched), SM39 (submarine-launched) and the MM40 (surface-launched). The newest MM40 version (MM40 Block 3) has an improved range of 180 kilometres, and includes four air-intakes to provide continuous airflow to the engine during high-G manoeuvres. The Block 3 missile accept guidance system waypoint commands, which allow them to attack naval target from different angles, to strike land targets, giving them a marginal role as a cruise missile.

Another exhibitor is General Dynamics Corporation, one of the world's largest defence contractor. The company has four core business segments: Marine Systems, Combat Systems, Information Systems and Technology, and Aerospace. The company's former Fort Worth Division manufactured the F-16 Fighting Falcon, the most-produced Western combat aircraft, but that subsidiary was sold to Lockheed in 1993. GD reentered the airframe business in 1999 with their purchase of Gulfstream Aerospace.

General Dynamics' Combat Systems group is a global leader in producing, supporting and sustaining land and expeditionary combat systems for the US military and its allies. The group supplies, supports and enhances tracked and wheeled combat vehicles and develops new combat systems for the future. Combat Systems' product lines include a full spectrum of wheeled armoured combat vehicles, tracked main battle tanks and infantry fighting vehicles, guns and ammunition-handling systems, ammunition and ordnance, reactive armour and other protection systems, mobile bridge systems, chemical and biohazard detection products and complex composite components for aerospace systems.

One of the company's products is the Piranha III family of armoured wheeled vehicles which was originally developed by Mowag Motorwagenfabriken of Switzerland, and is now part of General Dynamics European Land Combat Systems (ELCS). Over 8,000 Piranha family vehicles have been ordered and delivered. General Dynamics Land Systems - Canada (formerly General Motors Defence) also produce a version of the Piranha III known as the LAV III. The vehicles are constructed in a 6x6, 8x8 and 10x10 configuration.

In conjunction with Bridex 2009, there will be two conferences, the 6th Asean Air Chief Conference and also a one-day conference organised by Jane's Information Group which will be held on August 11 — a day before the official opening of Bridex 2009.

Jane's, a leading defence publishing company, will co-organise the conference with RBTS.

This year's Bridex event has attracted the interest of companies that represent the world's top 50 players in the global defence and security industry such as Austal (Australia), Avibras Indústria Aeroespacial (Brazil), Arsenal 2000 JSCO (Bulgaria), Défense Conseil International (DCI) (France), MBDA (France), Thales (France), Eurocopter (France), Lurssen Werft (Germany), Pakistan Ordnance Factories (Pakistan), Bumar Labedy SA Zaklady Mechaniczne (Poland), Singapore Technologies Engineering (Singapore), FNSS Savunma Sistemleri (Turkey), Bell Helicopter (USA), Harris Corporation (USA), General Dynamics (USA), Lockheed Martin (USA), Northrop Grumman (USA), Raytheon (USA), MilSys, Qinetic (UK) and Professional Powercraft, among others.

Brunei's participation will be represented by companies such as Metaweld Sdn Bhd, LS & A Sdn Bhd, Soartech System and QAF Transport. Neighbouring Malaysia is also expected to be represented by some of her top defence companies.

The Brunei Times