Close to 3,000 defence and security suppliers descended on London’s Docklands this week for the latest edition of DSEI (Defence and Security Equipment International), described in some quarters as “Europe’s biggest ever arms fair”.
The theme of DSEI 2023, held at the ExCeL centre, was ‘Achieving an Integrated Force’, bringing governments, the armed forces and the wider industry (including cyber) together for four days of keynote speeches, networking and product demonstrations.
Among the highlights from this year’s event was a headline grabbing talk from the US defence department’s new chief digital and AI officer, Dr Craig Martell, who told attendees that the world is “nowhere close” to a scenario whereby AI becomes an existential threat to society.
Elsewhere, in his keynote speech, Sir Patrick Sanders, Chief of the General Staff, talked mainly about the impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. As part of this he discussed the British Army’s commitment to renewing training methods, including the creation of digital training.
The latter is an area touched on by one of Liberty’s clients, CybExer Technoglogies, a NATO-award winning provider of cyber range solutions. Speaking to Defense News, one of the event’s official media partners, the CybExer team discussed how the company’s solutions are being utilised by military and governmental customers to help them prepare for cyber-attacks.
Late last year, CybExer announced that its cyber range technology was being utilised in the cyber lab of the Ukrainian Armed Forces as part of the EU’s support to Ukraine via the European Peace Facility.
My overriding takeaway from attending day three of DSEI was just how busy the event was – I haven’t seen the ExCeL teeming with so many people in many years. On top of this, it was particularly encouraging to see the Media Library so well stocked with multiple print magazines and other publications – and so many delegates taking the time for a sit down and rest to peruse them!
