Goscomvoyenprom Hosts First Meeting of MILEX 2017 Organising Committee

Minsk will once again host one of the largest arms exhibitions in Eastern Europe. In accordance with the Belarusian Prime Minister’s order No. 429r of 10 October 2016, the 8th international exhibition of arms and military equipment MILEX 2017 will be held from 20 to 22 May 2017 in Minsk.
To prepare and hold the event, an organising committee was established, which includes representatives of concerned national government bodies, special exporters, and others.
Chairman of the State Military Industrial Committee (Goscomvoyenprom) Sergei Gurulev is the head of the organising committee.
The first meeting of the MILEX 2017 organising committee chaired by First Deputy Chairman of Goscomvoyenprom (deputy chairman of the organising committee) Igor Bykov was held at Goscomvoyenprom on 20 October.
During the meeting, the organising committee members analysed the implementation of the action plan for the exhibition and were informed about the work being done by Belarusian ministries and departments to attract subordinate organisations and institutions, as well as about readiness of the Minsk-Arena multi-sports and entertainment complex, and information and advertising activity. In addition, the members allocated responsibilities and developed a concerted effort to increase the effectiveness of activities undertaken to organise the exhibition, as well as discussed problematic issues and ways to solve them.
Representatives of official delegations, professionals and visitors will see a spectacular opening show, which will take place on 20 May 2017 at the airfield complex of the Minsk-1 airport and will become a prologue to the upcoming arms exhibition. Organisers have already started to develop a plan scenario of events and are doing their best so that in 2017 the exhibition programme is broader, more extensive and exciting than ever before.
Given the consistently high interest of visitors to spectacular military shows, the organisers plan to significantly diversify the programme of a dynamic display, which involves not only a demonstration of wheeled and tracked vehicles overcoming obstacles and flights of unmanned aerial vehicles, but also a practical demonstration of manufactured (upgraded) weapons and military equipment, including communications support and data transmission, as well as deployment (displacement) and changeover from travelling position to firing position and other elements specific to demonstrated systems.
According to the organisers, the main areas covered in a static display, which will take place in the indoor area of the Minsk-Arena and in the outdoor area at the airfield complex of the Minsk-1 airport, will reflect current trends in international arms markets and capabilities of the Belarusian defence industry, as well as stimulate the development of promising areas in Goscomvoyenprom and the Belarusian defence sector. One of the main requirements is that exhibitors showcase fundamentally new products and advanced high-tech examples of weapon systems and military equipment.
Leaders of military and defence industry ministries and departments of foreign countries, representatives of expert and business community will be able to familiarise themselves with the latest achievements of the best design bureaus, research and production (manufacturing) companies and educational establishments of Belarus, Russia, the CSTO member states and other countries that are embodied in advanced examples of smart weapons and new weapon systems capable of fitting into new concepts of warfare.
Since 2001, the Belarusian arms show has traditionally attracted national and foreign arms manufacturers. The growing number of exhibitors and visitors proves its professionalism, popularity and topicality.
The exhibition is organised by Goscomvoyenprom and the National Exhibition Centre BelExpo – a general exhibition operator.
According to information from BelExpo, work is currently under way with potential exhibitors representing leading Belarusian and foreign defence companies.
Over the years, the MILEX international arms exhibition has attracted attention of specialised foreign and national media. The National Defense monthly magazine (Russia) will be the main information partner of the exhibition.

Translated by Olga Klevko