The International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX) generated quite a buzz at Eurosatory 2014, announcing the newest edition to its line-up with the release of the Unmanned Systems Exhibition, or UMEX. The announcement is timely as the UAE has shown a recent interest in the unmanned systems field and is looking to capitalize on rapidly emerging as one of the biggest defence markets in the world. Global sentiment seemed to follow suit at Eurosatory this year. The Exhibition was filled with talk of unmanned systems, as companies like Oshkosh, Lockheed Martin, and Dassault, among many others, showcased their unmanned capabilities and highlighted the global push towards the next generation of defence technology.

While IDEX has previously featured an unmanned systems pavilion at the exhibition, the embarkment into a full unmanned systems event marks the second time in only a few years that IDEX has decided to make significant additions to its repertoire. In 2011, it entered into coastal defence with NAVDEX, the Naval Defence & Maritime Security Exhibition. IDEX’s recent success is, in large part, due to the introduction of NAVDEX. It has become the region’s largest maritime defence exhibition and receives steadfast support and enthusiasm from its exhibitors and visitors. While UMEX is a new pillar to the IDEX offering