Recognizing the long history of U.S. participation at the Singapore Airshow, this year’s event has chosen the United States to be the inaugural “Feature Country.” This new facet of the show focuses on a single nation with the aim of providing a forum for elevating bilateral trade relations, broadening commercial avenues between Singapore and the featured country, and as a platform for bringing new products and services to Singapore and the Far East region.
Branded “Iconically American,” the U.S. participation at the show is centered on the U.S. Pavilion, which brings together more than 110 exhibitors into a display area that covers nearly an acre of space. The pavilion is the largest yet at the event, and includes companies representing 22 states, and the District of Columbia.
Organizing U.S. Pavilions at trade shows around the world is global business development specialist Kallman Worldwide. “We are extremely proud to present the Singapore Airshow to U.S. companies,” said president and CEO Tom Kallman. “Singapore is the crossroads to Asia, with a highly developed economy, high reliance on foreign trade, and consistent growth in the aerospace industry. And the Singapore Airshow is known as one of the top three airshows in the world.”
Exhibitors in the U.S. Pavilion cover a wide range of the latest technologies. Nearly three-quarters of them are small/medium-sized enterprises exhibiting at Singapore for the first time. The pavilion provides an ideal platform for them to showcase their technologies to the Far East marketplace. They are backed by full support from various U.S. trade and export agencies, including the Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration, U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service. The latter agency, in conjunction with the Singapore Airshow, has organized a dedicated Aerospace Executive Service Trade Mission. The pavilion also has the support of the local embassy, including U.S. ambassador, the Honorable Kirk Wagar.
Among the 100-plus pavilion exhibitors are a mix of household and less well-known names. BAE Systems Inc. is part of the group, showcasing its cyber security capabilities and also its F-16 avionics upgrade offer that has recently been selected by the Republic of Korea. Agricultural/ISR aircraft manufacturer Air Tractor is highlighting new float capability for its AT-802U for overwater operations, while Dillon Aero is advertising its proven M134D-H Minigun. Among the newcomers to the Singapore airshow is Discovery Aviation, which is promoting its Discovery 201 and 205 twin-engined light utility aircraft.
To aid visitors to find what they are looking for, the U.S. Pavilion has its own app that indexes the array of companies, technologies, products and services that are on offer. As well as trade visitors, a sizeable number of VIP, trade and defense delegations will be visiting the pavilion throughout the show.