The 32nd International Defence Industry Exhibition (MSPO) at Targi Kielce marked a pivotal moment for the defense sector. This year’s event set records in both visitor numbers and exhibitor participation, with over 28,000 attendees and 769 exhibitors, including 416 from Poland and 353 from 34 different countries. The exhibition showcased cutting-edge advancements in defense technology while creating a platform for new partnerships and collaboration opportunities within the industry.
Opportunities for Poland
The cutting-edge equipment displayed in the Kielce exhibition halls offers a glimpse into the future of the Polish Armed Forces as modernization efforts continue. A major highlight of the event was the attendance of several prominent officials, including the President of Poland, Andrzej Duda. The presence of high-ranking figures such as the Speaker of the Sejm, Szymon Hołownia, and the Minister of National Defense, Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz underscored the critical focus on national security. In a historic moment, Hołownia became the first Speaker to attend the exhibition’s opening, highlighting the growing importance of MSPO on the national stage.
A notable achievement during the event was the signing of a letter of intent with Northrop Grumman, paving the way for cooperation on the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye early warning aircraft, which will enhance Poland’s technical capabilities in servicing modern air systems. Additionally, significant contracts were signed during the exhibition, including a 242 million EUR deal between Poland’s Armaments Agency and the Spanish company Indra Sistemas for 15 systems to be used at military airfields. Other agreements included WB Electronics providing mini UAV systems FlyEye, and the U.S. government delivering 31 radio receivers for Poland’s missile defense systems.
The event also unveiled the Mobile Satellite Reconnaissance Platform ISR, developed through a partnership between the Polish Armaments Group, Military Communication Works No. 1, and ICEYE. This platform will enhance the Polish Armed Forces’ satellite data capabilities.
Body Armor at MSPO
In the past, BodyArmorNews.com had the pleasure of interviewing several key companies, present this year at MSPO including CS Composites Solutions, Integris Composites, Mehler Protection, or NP Aerospace. BodyArmorNews.com will be sharing updates on the latest developments these companies presented at the event, including introducing BC Arms, this year’s MSPO award winner in the body armor category.
MSPO traditionally recognizes excellence in defense technology with awards. Among the recipients this year was BC Arms, honored for their Warrior body armor line which premiered during the MSPO exhibition. The award, presented by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, acknowledged their innovativeness. The ballistic shields range from soft to hard and offer protection in various resistance classes from K2 to K5.
The new soft ballistic inserts have shown promising results, successfully passing MORATEX testing for the K4 protection class with an average back face deformation of 15mm. However, they narrowly missed the O4 shrapnel resistance classification, achieving a V50 velocity of 668 m/s, just 7 m/s short of the required 675 m/s. To address this, the manufacturer plans to enhance the inserts by adding an extra layer of ballistic material. As Krzysztof Urban, the chief technical officer of BC Arms, said, “To be safe, we’ll add two.” This improvement will provide protection against fragments at 700 m/s and reduce back face deformation when facing 7.62×25 rounds while maintaining a total weight of 1750g for the 1380 cm² plates.
What is the future of MSPO?
Given Poland’s strategic geopolitical location and the rapid growth of its defense industry, the MSPO event is poised to become a pivotal platform in the body armor sector. Immediately following the conclusion of the 32nd edition at Targi Kielce, work on preparing for the next event is already underway.
Dr. Andrzej Mochoń, president of Targi Kielce, remarked at the end of this year’s fair, “Next year, we will meet at MSPO in a slightly different reality due to the construction of a hall, which will begin in the spring. However, I assure you that you won’t even notice this process, and the Targi Kielce team will work with doubled efforts to ensure that next year’s fair meets all expectations. As for the International Defense Industry Exhibition 2026, that will be a completely different story.’’
At BodyArmorNews.com, we are already gearing up to cover these exciting developments and connect with more body armor manufacturers to bring you the latest and most relevant news from the industry.
