ABOUT
 

Invitation

On behalf of the Minister of Defence of the Czech Republic, we invite you to participate in the new major international military event, FUTURE SOLDIER 2008. This will take place at the Expo Centre, Prague, from 16-18 October 2008, and will consist of an Exhibition accompanied by a Conference. The event will be organised under the aegis of the National Armaments Director within the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic.

Scope

The exhibition Future Soldier 2008 will focus on the results of research, new technologies and materials, concepts and opportunities for international cooperation in the implementation of the integrated system of the soldier of the future and for the securing of the interoperability of its individual components in wartime and peacetime operations. The exhibition will also concentrate covering the issues of development and providing for the similar needs of armies and police forces for peacekeeping in populated agglomerations (Urban Peacekeeping). Although the exhibition is focused mainly on the question of individual components of the "Dismounted Soldier" project, an integral part of the trade fair has also traditionally been what will now be the 8th international exhibition for member states of NATO, Partnership for Peace and the Mediterranean Dialogue in the areas of modern combat dress, personal protection devices, soldiers' equipment and battlefield equipment.

History

The previous exhibitions were held in Portugal (1985), France (1988), the United Kingdom (1991), Canada (1994), Norway (1997), the Czech Republic (2000) and most recently in 2003 in Slovakia. Always participating at the events are representatives of the defense ministries of the individual countries, research and development centers, instructors, military operations commanders, experts from individual NATO working committees and commercial enterprises from more than 40 countries worldwide.

Expert Focus - Soldier of the Future

This involves a modular, integrated combat system for individual infantry soldiers, consisting of several parts integrated into a larger whole. It includes everything a soldier wears from head to toe and everything he is carrying (including smart weapons, communications devices and power sources), i.e. all of his arms and equipment for close combat. The system is made up of five integrated subsystems - weapons, helmet, computer/radio, software and also a subsystem for protective devices and individual equipment.

Range of Exhibits at the Exhibition Future Soldier 2008

  • Operational and protective clothing
  • Body armour
  • Load carriage
  • CBRN protection and personal detection
  • Common communications systems
  • Electro optical sighting and vision
  • Digital mapping and situation awareness
  • C4I management and structures
  • Personal weapon systems
  • Non-lethal weapons and riot control
  • Power sources
  • Friend and foe recognition
  • Simulation and virtual reality for training
  • Battlefield/ Infrastructure support equipment, shelters, logistics
  • Digital Battlefield

We welcome exhibits as well as dynamic presentations and introductions of actual products in the area of the Dismounted Soldier integrated system.

Participants

  1. national exhibitors and delegates - individual armies of member states in NATO, Partnership for Peace and the Mediterranean Dialogue program
  2. other exhibitors - research and development centers, manufacturing and commercial subjects from individual countries
  3. lecturers - instructors, military operations commanders, experts from NATO working committees, scientists
  4. the professional community - representatives of national acquisition centers, invited military experts in given areas, representatives of state administration, research and education centers, manufacturing and business entities and, of course, also VIP guests and political representation of individual countries

Structure

The exhibition will last for three days. A Conference entitled Urban Peacekeeping will take place 16/17 October. The CCIEP subgroup of experts and other specialist groups can arrange meetings within the structure of the Conference.

Conference

Dismounted military and police forces find themselves operating in a common environment in the challenge to provide public security and peacekeeping. This can range from International Coalition conflict operations, such as in Afghanistan, to maintaining law and order on streets at home.

Equipment can be common to both these forces, and the benefit of research and development can be equally shared between Defence and Interior Ministries. However, training, management, funding and political control can vary enormously.

The purpose of this conference is to highlight similarities and shared environments which military and police often unknowingly share, looking to ways where cooperation and coordination could save national resources and costs. We seek papers and presentations for the conference covering capabilities and research. In the first instance requests to give papers and presentations should be submitted to the Organiser with the name of speaker, subject and a short synopsis (250 words) of the subject.

Conference


Information

The international coordination centre for Future Soldier 2008 is able to provide further information and help with accommodation and organisational matters.