Press Releases

The IDET International Defence and Security Technologies Fair ranks among the most important shows held in NATO countries. At the same time, it is unique for its connection, concurrently with PYROS and ISET fairs, to a comprehensive presentation of the Integrated Rescue System. This year's security fairs presented exhibits of a total of 534 companies from 35 countries and   documented the growing strength of the Czech defence industry.  Over the first three days 26 thousand visitors passed through the gates of the Exhibition Centre; on Saturday, there was an event for the general public called Safety Day - Rescuers for Children, which welcomed about 10000 visitors.

Record-breaking size of this year's fairs  corresponds to the difficult security situation and growing investments in strengthening national defence. "IDET is a transparent presentation platform, a place for establishing defence and industrial cooperation. Those who attended show their interest in defence cooperation with the Czech Republic," said Jiří Kuliš, CEO of BVV Trade Fairs Brno. The trefoil of the Brno Security Fairs for the first time in history was launched by the Czech Prime Minister. On this occasion, Andrej Babiš wrote in the Brno Trade Fairs memorial book: "A great trade fair that definitely significantly supports the exports of Czech armament companies. I'm here for the first time, but I'm sure I'll be happy to come back and talk about IDET abroad everywhere I visit."

Among VIP guests of the fairs there were also the Minister of Defence of the Czech Republic Lubomír Metnar, Minister of Defence of Sweden Peter Hultqvist, chairpersons of both parliamentary security committees Pavel Fischer and Radek Koten, Chiefs of General Staff of the Czech and Slovak General Staffs Aleš Opata and Daniel Zmeko, general director of the Fire Rescue Service of the Czech Republic Drahoslav Ryba and others. Based upon invitation by the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic and the company Trade Fairs Brno, foreign delegations from 20 countries arrived from countries such as France, India, Lithuania, Latvia, Hungary, Germany, Norway, Poland, Austria or Slovakia. There were also delegations of NATO and EDA (European Defence Agency). Particular attention was paid this year Swedish – Czech cooperation in defence industry.

The IDET fair was attended by 423 exhibiting companies on a record-breaking area; 70% of these companies came from abroad. The exhibiting companies were very pleased with the interest of the visitors and the fair also saw the signing of several major contracts. For example, two contracts signed by the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic: a contract for the servicing and modernization of sixteen L-159 aircraft worth 1.6 billion crowns with Aero Vodochody and a contract for the purchase of 31 heavy off-road military vehicles Tatra worth 500 million crowns with the company Tatra Trucks.

An important event as part of the supporting programme was traditionally the CATE international conference (Community – Army – Technology – Environment), which focused on logistics in armed forces, the changing nature of conflicts and challenges of adapting the armed forces. The Czech – Austrian  Industrial Forum, the Czech – Turkish Industrial Forum and the Czech – Swedish Innovation Seminar  discussed the development of bilateral cooperation in defence technologies. On the occasion of PYROS 2019, the traditional Pyromeeting conference was held, this time on the topic of "Climate Change". For the first time ever, the Brno Exhibition Centre was the venue for the finals of the NATO Innovation Challenge 2019 contest, which is backed by the armies of NATO member states. Seven teams – five from the United States, one from the United Kingdom and one from Germany – presented their solutions to the topic of "Electromagnetic Pulse – Prevention, Mitigation and Recovery" directly on the spot, four other teams joined in online and eventually won the team of Electronics Service from the USA.

The supporting programme also featured the IDET ARENA terrain polygon for military, fire and police equipment shows, which was a real attraction to visitors.

Some great exhibition stands focused on significant anniversaries. The Ministry of Defence and the Czech Army commemorated 100 years since the establishment of the General Staff of the Army of the Czech Republic and also 20 years since the Czech Republic joined NATO. The Police of the Czech Republic commemorated 100 years of transport police.

Five Golden IDET awards and three IDET NEWS awards were handed out to the best exhibits at the fair. 27 exhibits were entered and an expert jury selected five winners: the company Excalibur Army won with its armoured tactical vehicle PATRIOT II., the company ERA got an award for its VERA-NG Simulator, the company Agados received an award for its Agados amphibious off-road trailer, and the company Dajbych won with its Gepard reconnaissance vehicle; the Golden IDET 2019 was also awarded to the Common Operational Image of Ground and Air Force Command and Control Systems with the Highest Level of Communication Protection, manufactured by the companies Delinfo, ALES and ICZ. The IDET NEWS 2019 journalists' awards were also handed out. The gold was won by DETEX Explosives Detection Kit of the company Explosia, the silver belongs to EVPÚ Defence for its CMS Panoramic Commander Sight and the bronze went to the company Agados for its amphibious off-road trailer.

On Saturday 1 June, the exhibition ground gates will remain open. Hall Z will host the Safety Day – Rescuers for Children event, open to the general public. The IDET stands (except for the display of the Ministry of Defence and the Army of the Czech Republic) will be already closed. The PYROS and ISET fairs continue to run on Saturday, when there will be a fire brigade sports competition in the TFA disciplines for the Cup of the Moravian Fire Union. The IDET ARENA will also remain open.

The next season of IDET will be staged
from 26 to 28 May 2021.

The PYROS and ISET fairs will run
from 26 to 29 May 2021.