Gold rush atmosphere at Berlin's military air trade show
Key takeaways
- This year's ILA Berlin Air Show is breaking records, primarily because of the booming defense sector, which is reaping billions in contracts as a result of wars and crises.
- What does the rover that will be used to drill a two-meter-deep hole in Phobos, one of moons that orbits planet Mars, look like?
- At the opening, Michael Schöllhorn, CEO of Airbus Defense and Space and president of the German aerospace industry association (BDLI), spoke of "a record-breaking ILA."
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
This year's ILA Berlin Air Show is breaking records, primarily because of the booming defense sector, which is reaping billions in contracts as a result of wars and crises.
https://p.dw.com/p/5FLFn Weapons manufacturers were keen to demonstrate their wares, such as this air defense system, at this year's ILA Image: Sabine Kinkartz/DWAdvertisement Will it one day be possible for climate-neutral planes to fly without leaving contrails? What does the rover that will be used to drill a two-meter-deep hole in Phobos, one of moons that orbits planet Mars, look like? These are just two of the questions being explored at the ILA in the German capital, one of the biggest air shows in Europe.
There is little evidence of the current crisis facing civil aviation because of the Iran war, and little talk about the worldwide complaints about high oil prices and fuel shortages, rising ticket prices and cancelled flights. At the opening, Michael Schöllhorn, CEO of Airbus Defense and Space and president of the German aerospace industry association (BDLI), spoke of "a record-breaking ILA."