Large UK presence at Pacific 2013
Strong British flavour continues at International Fleet Review with large trade contingent at Pacific.
The UK has sent a high-powered delegation this year to , the international maritime exhibition, showing how highly it values Australia as a strategic defence, security and trade partner.
The UK presence is being led by Minister for International Security Strategy, Dr Andrew Murrison. Also in attendance were the Head of the Royal Navy, First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir George Zamballas and David Hatcher, Regional Director Australasia and Asia, UK Trade & Investment Defence and Security Organisation. 19 British companies are exhibiting at Pacific, forming the second largest foreign contingent at the show after the USA.
The defence relationship between the UK and Australia is not only very important from an international security perspective, it鈥檚 also a large and growing part of the trade relationship between the two countries. UK defence exports to Australia in 2012 were 拢64 million and Australia was the second biggest importer of UK defence products in the Asia Pacific Region from 2003 鈥� 2012.
Among the British companies showing its wares at Pacific is , a world leader in missiles and missile systems. Mike Taylor, Marketing Executive at MBDA said the company was proud to be in Australia sharing their new products, including a UK-built system, the Common Anti-Air Modular Missile (CAMM).
鈥淚t鈥檚 a next generation air defence missile designed for land, sea and air environments and we鈥檝e received a lot of interest in Australia so far,鈥� said Taylor.
Global defence, security and aerospace company has brought UK Maritime 鈥� Naval Ships experts to Sydney to showcase their Global Combat Ships.
George Porteous, a BAE Systems (Maritime 鈥� Naval Ships) representative, said particular focus was being made on the UK鈥檚 versatile Type 26 Combat Ship.
鈥淲e鈥檝e had some meetings and discussions with Australia about the project to find out whether it鈥檚 possible to have the UK鈥檚 global combat ship included as an option or solution,鈥� said Porteous.
Other UK companies exhibiting include , the provider of the UK Submarine fleet鈥檚 communications system and , a Scottish engineering firm specialising in naval mechanical handling equipment.
Pacific 2013 runs until Wednesday 9 October at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre.