The Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Ms Thandi Modise, officially launched the Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) exhibition and air show during a ceremony held in Pretoria on Thursday 5 May 2022.
The launch comes after a long pause due to the novel Covid-19. The mandatory lock-downs across the globe resulted in a halt on mass events and AAD was not exempted. Minister Modise addressed guests, including officials from the Department of Defence, AAD partners, industry players within the South African aerospace and defence industries, Military Attaches, and Members of the Media.
The Minister congratulated the AAD team for unveiling an appropriate theme for AAD 2022! Exploring New Paths, Sharing Solutions, Showcasing Innovation and Capabilities. She further echoed the importance of hosting events such as AAD, adding that Covid has categorically changed the characteristic of traditional exhibitions, “Tradition has been replaced by a driving force to reconnect and engage on a more meaningful level than before, to move past individualised efforts and migrate towards finding solutions on a collective basis”.
“The organising team believe that AAD 2022 will happen and I am here today to say I join in, and unreservedly echo that sentiment,” Modise said. Planning for AAD022 is well underway, with over 50% of the space booking already confirmed, and countries such as the USA, Italy, Turkey, Belgium and China, UK, India and Pakistan as National Pavilions.
Exhibition director, Michelle Nxumalo shared some of the essential plans for AAD 2022; these include diversifying the exhibitor profile to have a focus on new markets such as Oil and Gas, Mining and Energy.
The 2022 format remains unchanged with the event keeping to the traditional three trade days and two air show days on the weekend. The event will once again give exhibitors and trade visitors a unique opportunity to interact directly with various stakeholders from the government over the trade days and allow for the public to be within the spectacular display of the Aerospace Sector and Airforce.
AAD’s advanced youth development programme (YDP), aimed at exposing learners to the myriad of the complex technologies and innovations within the Aviation and Defence industries, is set to be a highlight at AAD2022, with a more advanced and improved programme. This will be achieved through partnerships with industry organisations.
Modise called on the defence and aerospace industries to actively participate and support AAD, she expanded that AAD is an established platform, refined to suit business and marketing needs which will undoubtedly yield a positive return on investment for participants.
“AAD remains fully committed to matters of compliance with all statutory requirements relating to the organising and hosting of events of this magnitude,” said the Exhibition Director.
The Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) is Africa’s only aerospace and defence expo that combines both a trade exhibition and an air show. Held biennially in the City of Tshwane – South Africa’s administrative capital, the AAD Expo is one of South Africa’s largest contributors to the country’s GDP in show years and is regarded as a national asset.
AAD provides manufacturing companies in the aerospace and defence arena the most viable access to the Continent’s purchasing, procurement and supply chains in the sector, as well as other sectors that benefit from these technologies.
Now in the 11th instalment since its inception in 2000, the event has grown in leaps and bounds. It serves the interests of both the civilian and military sectors. AAD is the largest defence and aviation exhibition in Africa and has established itself as a major platform for showcasing the most advanced technologies in the global defence and general aviation environment.
The eleventh edition of AAD will take place at AFB Waterkloof, Centurion, between the 21 to 25th of September 2022, and will once again bring together various industries from across the world to showcase the latest technological innovations in the aviation and defence sector.
