The insightful articles, inspiring narrations and analytical perspectives presented by the Editorial Team, establish an alluring connect with the reader. My compliments and best wishes to SP Guide Publications.
"Over the past 60 years, the growth of SP Guide Publications has mirrored the rising stature of Indian Navy. Its well-researched and informative magazines on Defence and Aerospace sector have served to shape an educated opinion of our military personnel, policy makers and the public alike. I wish SP's Publication team continued success, fair winds and following seas in all future endeavour!"
Since, its inception in 1964, SP Guide Publications has consistently demonstrated commitment to high-quality journalism in the aerospace and defence sectors, earning a well-deserved reputation as Asia's largest media house in this domain. I wish SP Guide Publications continued success in its pursuit of excellence.
The Dubai Airshow 2023 hosted over 1,400 exhibitors and showcasing 180+ aircraft on flying and static display
Returning with its 18th edition, the Dubai Airshow took off from November 13, 2023 to go on till November 17, 2023 at the Dubai World Central, Dubai Airshow Site. This high-profile international event offered a glimpse into the ever-evolving world of aerospace and also to be a platform for strategic networking, a showcase of state-of-the-art aircraft, knowledgebuilding conferences, and much more.
This edition, opened doors to pavilions from over 20 countries, each displaying its groundbreaking products and technologies. The event features four co-located conferences, including Aerospace 2050, Aviation Mobility, Vista, and the Airworthiness and Safety Conference. These conferences span a total of nine different tracks and run throughout the event, providing a deep dive into the industry’s latest trends and developments. New to the DAS was an updated conference agenda that delves into key topics, such as the future of air travel and passenger experience.
A GRAND AIRBORNE SPECTACLE
Over 180 aircraft graced the event, ranging from business jets to drones, commercial airlines, military jets, helicopters, and more. Highlight of this edition was the spotlight on the future of transportation, with electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft taking center stage.
Leading global aviation companies, from Airbus to Boeing, Dassault to Embraer, Emirates to Etihad, Gulf Helicopters to Gulfstream, Pilatus to Qatar, and many more showcased their most advanced aircraft. The Dubai Airshow 2023 hosted over 1,400 exhibitors, showcasing 180+ aircraft on flying and static display. The show had over 80 hours of captivating content being presented by more than 300 industry experts, from technology to sustainability, air traffic management, and cargo, delving into the industry’s latest trends.
The airshow was also a stage for many exciting displays and debuts. India’s LCA Tejas, Pakistan’s JF-17, China’s J-10C aircraft were among the display candidates. Russia’s aerospace sector made a substantial impression at DAS, boasting a spacious dedicated pavilion adjacent to the static display. This presence underscored the return of the Russian Knights display team from the air and space force, showcasing a fleet of Sukhoi Su-30SM and Su-35S fighters. It was also a debut for Russia’s re-engined Ilyushin Il-76MD-90A transport. UAE Mirage 2000- 9, Airbus A350-1000, F-15QA, F-16, Dassault Aviation’s Rafale, HAL Dhruva Sarang display team, the Italian Air Force aerobatic display team, Fursan-al-Emarat (UAE Knights) aerobatics team were among the highlights from the Flying Display.
SPACE EXPLORATION AND ADVANCED AERIAL MOBILITY
The Space Experience Programme, led by the UAE Space Agency, took center stage, hosting a carefully curated space delegation program and a two-day content conference. It was the largest Space pavilion in the history of the Dubai Airshow, focusing on driving innovation and sustainability in the aerospace industry.
An exciting addition was the brand-new Advanced Aerial Mobility pavilion. It offered the chance to marvel at cutting-edge innovations in flight technology, presenting the latest eVTOLs, drones, and UAVs. The Dubai Airshow 2023 set a spotlight on the burgeoning flying taxi market. Dubai is at the forefront of the growth of disruptive aerial transportation, fast becoming the future of aviation. With the development of aerial taxi vertiports taking place in the city, the Dubai Airshow was the perfect platform for exploring a range of aerial transport solutions, including drones, UAVs, UAMs, and eVTOLs. The event featured an eVTOL flying display, showcasing the capabilities of these innovative future transport methods. Dubai’s visionary plans for flying taxis by 2026 made this display all the more exciting.
The Aerospace 2050 stage at DAS featured dedicated tracks for sustainability, space (powered by Abu Dhabi Space Debate), and the NextGen Leaders. The NextGen Leadership programme is dedicated to nurturing young professionals within the aerospace, defence, and space industries.
The Aviation Mobility stage brought together decisionmakers to discuss the latest trends and challenges across the broader aviation spectrum. Whether it’s Advanced Aerial Mobility, Air Traffic Management, or Passenger Experience, these diverse tracks share key insights of the industry.
A STAGE FOR EXCITING ORDERS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Dubai Airshow is certainly a hub for orders and contracts; as well as a stage for significant announcements. In the 2021 edition, orders worth over $74 billion were added to the industry’s order books, and military contracts worth more than $6.1 billion were inked. This year, many exciting new aircraft launches and sustainability partnerships were expected throughout the week and the first two days of the show set the tone for the same.
On the inaugural day of the Dubai Airshow 2023, Tawazun Council, an independent governmental entity collaborating closely with the Ministry of Defence and security agencies to optimise value through acquisition systems, announced the signing of nine agreements with both local and international companies. Tawazun Council inked four contracts with local companies on behalf of the Ministry of Defence, totaling AED 2.7 billion. This included a significant AED 2.14 billion ammunition procurement contract with Halcon and two contracts with International Golden Group: one amounting to AED 338 million for providing Technical Support for Aircraft, and the other valuing AED 13 million for the Purchase of Engines and Parts for Aircraft. Additionally, a contract worth AED 20 million was signed with Air Dynamics Solutions for Technical Support, Purchase of Spare Parts, and Aircraft Repair. The agreements with international companies comprised five deals totaling AED 2 billion. These encompassed a contract of AED 1.62 billion with the Chinese company CATIC for the procurement of an Air Show Aircraft and its Accessories, a contract of AED 326 million with the French company Thales LAS France SAS for the purchase of Detection Radars, and a contract of AED 3.5 million with the US company “IOMAX” to provide Technical Support for Armament Systems, as well as the Purchase of Spare Parts, Maintenance, and Repair Work for Aircraft.
Some of the other key announcements during the first two days of the show include:
As three more days remain at the Dubai Air Show, a lot more action awaits in the sky, at the pavilions, at the exhibition site, and at the discussion stages, at the Dubai Airshow Site of DAS’ 18th edition.
This is the first part of the Show Report. The second and final part of the show report will be published in issue 12/2023.