foto: Team SM/President of Czech republic at FFF 2024
One of the main parts of FFF 2024, namely the Future Forces International Exhibition, opens its doors today. It will run until Friday 18 October.
On Monday 14 October, an international platform focused on trends and technologies in defence and security called Future Forces Forum started in Prague. The week-long event, running until Friday 18 October, includes a wide range of activities from an international exhibition taking place from today, Wednesday 16 October, to workshops, panel discussions, bilateral meetings, but above all also a meeting of NATO country expert groups. The Security Magazine editorial team will be present for the whole three days to cover the highlights of the FFF and will keep you regularly updated on the latest developments.
FFF 2024 hosts more than 300 exhibitors
More than 300 exhibitors from at least 35 countries all around the world will participate in this year's Future Forces Exhibition, an international defence and security technology show. Notable among them are the leading French military equipment manufacturer Arquus, Sweden's BAE Systems, the Franco-German European holding KNDS and many other companies from Ukraine, the United States, Great Britain, Germany, Denmark, Slovakia, Belgium, as well as Israel, China and Turkey.
Among the 150 Czech companies present, Czechoslovak Group, the official partner of the FFF, and AERO Vodochody, the largest domestic aerospace manufacturer, will present their latest technology. The main themes of this years exhibition focused on modern technologies and innovations are artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, robotics, counter-terrorism technologies, the future of NATO ground and air forces, integrated systems, cyber defence, air defence and many others.
This year's event is held under the auspices and with the support of President of Czech republic Petr Pavel, the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Markéta Pekarová Adamová, the President of the Senate Miloš Vystrčil, the Government of the Czech Republic, the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Defence, Interior, Industry and Trade and Health, as well as the Police of the Czech Republic, the Police Presidium, the Prison Service and a number of institutions directly belonging to or connected to NATO. In addition to the Alliance the FFF also directly supports the Czech Armed Forces, the Ground Forces, the Air Forces and, among international partners, the European Defence Agency and the United States European Command. Among the educational institutions that have granted patronage to the event, we should mention in particular the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic.
The foundations of the FFF go back to 80s
The FFF platform historically stems from the International Combat Clothing & Personal Equipment Exhibition, which was organized in Lisbon, Portugal, as early as 1985. Fifteen years later, in 1990, the 6th edition of the exhibition of the same name was held for the first time in Prague and already in that year the event was granted the patronage of the Ministry of Defence. Since 2008, the exhibition was organized in Prague under the name Future Soldier. In 2016, a major breakthrough came when the existing exhibition and professional programme was expanded with additional activities.
These were aimed at connecting national and international actors in the fields of science, research, exploration and education on defence and security topics. It was only in 2016 that the platform was designated as the Future Forces Forum and since then, with the exception of 2020, the event has been held every two years. Last year's event, which took place in 2022, hosted more than 8,350 visitors from 70 countries around the world. This year, organisers estimate at least similar attendance, but rather higher.
Source: future-forces.org
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