Record numbers visit MSPO 2024
Image courtesy: Targi Kielce
The Targi Kielce's 32nd International Defence Industry Exhibition - the key event for the defence industry. Seven hundred and sixty-nine companies presented their solutions, including 416 from Poland and 353 from 34 countries. The largest company representations came from the United States (53), United Kingdom (34), Australia (31), Germany (30), Canada (27), South Korea (27) and Denmark (18). As in every year, the Polish Armaments Group – MSPO Strategic Partner – helped to prepare the Kielce event, which has become a pivotal meeting platform for senior officials and arms industry executives from Poland and all corners of the world.
A record-breaking number of visitors to 2024 MSPO
Over 28 thousand people from around the world, which is two thousand more than last year, came to see the latest technologies and defence solutions. It included 65 foreign delegations from 47 countries, among them Australia, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, the Philippines, France, India, Indonesia, Japan, Canada, South Korea, Malaysia, Serbia, the United States, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine, Italy and Bangladesh.
The President, the Speaker of the Parliament and Minister of National Defence visit MSPO.
MSPO had many official guests, including the President of the Republic of Poland, Mr Andrzej Duda, Szymon Hołownia (the first Speaker of the Sejm in the history of the Expo to visit Targi Kielce and attend the opening of MSPO), Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz and Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Defence, Władysław Kosiniak Kamysz. Mochoń, who said: "This year's MSPO is the largest Polish Defence Industry Exhibition in its history. The Kielce expo is an example of extraordinary development and is very much needed for developing the Świętokrzyskie region. May this Expo be a great showcase of the Republic of Poland."
The event was also visited by Tomasz Siemoniak, Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration and many other ministers, members of Parliament, representatives of the provincial authorities and the city of Kielce, headed by the Mayor of Kielce, Agata Wojda. The head of the Ministry of National Defence, for the first time in the history of MSPO, visited Targi Kielce at the inauguration of the Exhibition and on the last day of the event.
Contracts
Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz pointed out that the 32nd MSPO witnesses the official signing of essential contracts worth approximately PLN 2 billion. The Armaments Agency signed five contracts, including those with the Spanish Indra Sistemas, for the delivery of 15 systems, which soldiers servicing military airports are awaiting; the contract value is PLN 1.1 billion.
WB Electronics will supply of FlyEye Miniature Unmanned Aerial Systems sets, the contract value is 24 million PLN. The contract covers the delivery of 31 radio receivers for anti-aircraft and anti-missile systems intended for the medium-range Wisła and short-range Narew systems.
The value of this contract is approximately $16.7 million. Subsequent agreements of crucial importance also boosted the development of the defence industry, many of which were concluded behind the scenes.
The result of the cooperation established a year ago between the Polish Armaments Group, Military Communication Works No. 1, and ICEYE was the premiere presentation of the Mobile Satellite Reconnaissance Platform ISR. This platform enables the rapid satellite data transfer to the Polish armed forces.
The 32st International Defence Industry Exhibition culminated in prestigious awards and distinctions; the accolades were traditionally presented to honour exceptional achievements in the field of defence and innovative technologies.
DEFENDER Awards
DEFENDER Awards are presented for special achievements in the field of defence, both for companies and institutions. This year, awards were given to innovative vehicles, loitering munitions systems, passive location systems, and other modern solutions that support security. The award is bestowed upon the resolution of the MSPO Program Board chaired by Paweł Bejda, Secretary of State in the Ministry of National Defence. This year's awards were presented by the Minister of National Defence, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, who was present at the gala ceremony. The Minister of National Defence's Distinction was also a part of the function.
TOP DESIGN 2024 - awards for expo stand arrangement were also presented. Not only aesthetics but also functionality were recognised.
The ceremony also witnessed companies celebrating their anniversaries, honouring these firms with special awards. Distinctions from key military institutions such as the Armed Forces Support Inspectorate, the Territorial Defence Forces Command and the General Command of the Armed Forces Branches were also handed. The gala ceremony concluded with the presentation of a special award from the President of the Republic of Poland.
MSPO 2025 features construction of a new expo hall
Preparations for the next Expo have already begun and at the end of this year's Exhibition, President of Targi Kielce, Doctor Andrzej Mochoń said: "Next year, we will meet at MSPO in a slightly different reality because of the expo hall construction, which will begin in spring. I assure you, however - you will not even notice this process. The Targi Kielce team will go the extra mile to ensure that next year's Expo meets all expectations. The International Defence Industry Exhibition 2026 turns a new page in our history"
Links to video coverage from MSPO:
