About 400 defense companies, including several locally based firms, are showcasing their new equipment to the U.S. Marine Corps during the 2007 Modern Day Marine Military Exposition. Offerings run the gamut from helicopters, radar systems and assault vehicles to Gatling guns, battle command software and mobile communications services.
Some of the products are debuting for the first time. BAE Systems on Tuesday unveiled a remotely operated, turreted weapons system, designed specifically for the Marine Corps V-22 tiltrotor aircraft.
BAE is also showing off the Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle, currently being delivered to the U.S. Marines, according to Doug Coffey, vice president of BAE Systems Land and Armaments group.
The event, which runs through Thursday, is an important networking opportunity for defense contractors.
“The value of the show is more for relationship-building and identifying contacts for follow up,” said Alan Colegrove, director of Northrop Grumman’s Land Forces business development group, who was at the event Tuesday. The audience is made up mostly of Marines from all levels but also includes some engineers and Navy personnel, he said. The crowd is just as large, if not larger than last year.
Northrop is debuting the STARLite radar system, for which Northrop has entered a proposal with the U.S. Army. Northrop’s exhibits also feature a full-scale Fire Scout helicopter (an unmanned aerial vehicle), a full-scale mock-up of the G/A/TOR system (Ground Air Task Oriented Radar), battle command software and night vision systems. So far,the event has been “very successful,” with interest shown on the G/ATOR program and night vision equipment, Colegrove said.
General Dynamics is highlighting its Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle and its lightweight weapons systems. It is also displaying machine guns and chemical agent detectors, according to spokeswoman Teresa Gaines. The three-day event is taking place at the Marine Corps Base in Quantico.
