Paris defense show may be last chance to buy before war, CEO says
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PARIS — This year’s Eurosatory defense show near Paris may be the last chance for European countries to shop for weapons that will still be delivered in time for a possible conflict with Russia, according to the retired French general who heads the company running the event.With some military experts warning Europe risks a direct confrontation with Russia in the next two years, defense equipment still in development would arrive too late to make a difference at the outbreak of a conflict, said Charles Beaudouin, the CEO of Coges Events, which organizes the show, the largest of its kind by the number of exhibitors.“It’s the show of the rising perils, to use a term that isn’t too warlike, but it’s clearly a show that is preparing for war,” Beaudouin told Defense News. “The show is the last chance to buy off-the-shelf equipment to be delivered for the war.”Several European intelligence services have warned Russia could challenge NATO by 2030, with European Commissioner for Defence Andrius Kubilius last November saying the country “can be ready to test” the alliance within two to four years. German Lt. Gen. Alexander Sollfrank told Reuters in November that Russia could launch a “small-scale attack” against NATO territory at any time.If Europe goes to war in the next two years, it will be with what it either possesses already or can acquire in the coming year, according to Beaudouin, the former head of the French army’s equipment office.“We no longer have time to develop new systems,” the retired general said, arguing that equipment still in development “will arrive too late” should Europe face a military conflict in the next few years. He said the urgency means that wherever European options are not available “we have to go with an American, Korean, Indian or other off-the-shelf solution.”Surging defense investment means Eurosatory is bigger than ever this year, with the number of exhibitors rising 30% to more than 2,600, and 80% of the defense firms at the show from Eu