Artificial intelligence (AI), drones and autonomous weapons are taking center stage at the ongoing Farnborough International Airshow in the UK, shifting attention from aircraft orders to defense technologies.
Farnborough, the world's second-largest airshow after Paris, has long been a showcase for commercial aviation. But this year the five-day event, which opened Monday with more than 1,600 exhibitors, is dominated by defense firms and start-ups as manufacturers grapple with supply chain constraints and governments boost military spending.
Defense-related companies now account for nearly half of the record 1,600 exhibitors at this year's show, up from roughly 40 percent at previous editions.
The challenge facing global aviation is not demand but delivery, as supply chain disruptions, labor shortages and engine delays continue to slow production.
China has an increasing presence at the event, with its manufacturers emerging as key players in the industry.
"There is not a single country in the world that can make a commercial aircraft by itself. Airbus and Boeing are buying from China, and are selling to China. It's the same story in China," said Van Gao, Managing Director of IASC.
"Our Chinese titanium sponge could not go overseas in the last five years. But after the Ukraine crisis, a lot of companies, especially for the aerospace market, have approved some Chinese titanium sponge to come in. So for the aerospace market, titanium is increasing, especially in the three or five years," said Tony Liu, Vice General Manager of Hunan Xiangtou Goldsky Titanium Metal.
"In terms of landing gear, we are contributing a very large share for the global supply chain. And for aerostructures, we are also a very important supplier to the supply chain. But we have a long way to go maybe in terms of engines," said Lai Huihui, Project Manager with Erzhong Group Deyang Aviation Technology.
AI, defense tech dominate Farnborough Airshow in UK
A moving on-stage performance featuring a guard of honor of modern military personnel alongside actors portraying Red Army soldiers and a video montage of some of China's key historical milestones showcased the enduring spirit of the Long March during a televised gala commemorating the 90th anniversary of the Red Army's victory in the epic military campaign on Thursday.
The Long March (1934-1936) was a defining military maneuver undertaken by the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army, symbolizing endurance and perseverance which ultimately paved the way for the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949.
Titled "Ode to the Long March," the five-part gala broadcast by the China Media Group (CMG) centers on key historical junctures of the arduous 12,500-kilometer journey.
As the Gala neared its conclusion, the segment entitled "From Victory to Victory" highlighted a series of historical milestones spanning from 1945 –- from the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War -- to the present day, vividly depicting the enduring Long March spirit that serves as a source of inspiration for China to march toward its goals with confidence, unity and resolve.
Integrating music, dance, drama, and folk art, the performances at the Gala vividly recall the immense hardships the Red Army endured and showcase the firm beliefs held by the Communist Party of China (CPC), even in the face of sacrifice and suffering.
The broadcast followed a commemorative meeting held earlier on Thursday at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, where Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered an important speech.
The Long March began in October 1934, when 86,000 poorly armed soldiers began a grueling 12,500-kilometer journey across some of the country's harshest terrain to establish a new revolutionary base. The march concluded in October 1936 when three main Red Army forces converged in northwestern China.
Military formations, montage of historical milestones showcase enduring spirit of Long March
