Outside the Land Forces Expo police and protesters are battling on the streets. But inside, the battle is for business.

More than 700 companies have come to Melbourne’s Convention and Exhibition Centre for a piece of the booming defence market.

“This is the largest trade show of its nature and of its type for the work that we do,” said Travis Reddy, CEO of DefendTex.

The Australian company specialises in unmanned ground vehicles, or UGVs. 

Mr Reddy believes there is no better place to show what they can do than the Land Forces Expo.

“First is visibility, to ensure that the decision makers are aware of the capability that we have here in Australia,” he said.

It is also the best place to discover what buyers are looking for, he said.

Delegates from 45 countries are attending the weapons expo. Many of them are from militaries in the Asia Pacific region. And they have money to spend.

Last year, Asia Pacific countries excluding China spent more than $480 billion on defence, according to influential defence publication Janes.

For big players such as Lockheed Martin, Land Forces is a chance to showcase its work in Australia.

“We really get a great opportunity to talk to Australian industry about programs that we’re working on and looking to deliver for the Australian Defence Force,” said Liam Catterson, who works with Lockheed Martin’s integrated air and missile defence program.

“We only do [defence expos] for each domain every two years. So you really have … a two-year window to talk to these people and forge those relationships.”

‘Not just a weapons expo’

Many of the exhibitors were reluctant to talk about the anti-war protests happening outside the exhibition hall where Land Forces is taking place. 

Some of those who did said the anger expressed at attendees by some protesters was undeserved.

“Someone filmed me and said, ‘How does it feel to be making money off dead children?’ or something like that,” said Andrew Jupp, CEO of mannequin company Mimikintech.

“They don’t know me. They don’t know what I do. They don’t know. So it’s … misplaced hatred.”

Several small exhibitors shared similar experiences. And they were keen to point out many companies at Land Forces are not in the weapons business.

“It’s got everything … There’s hospital, there’s nutrition over there, all kinds. I think it’s been sort of painted with one brush, right?”

None of the exhibitors 7.30 spoke with questioned the right of demonstrators to protest the event, but several said the confrontations on the streets had gone too far.

“We all have views and opinions, and everyone’s entitled to protest, but we’re also entitled to go about our business and we do it peacefully,” Mr Reddy said.

“They’re out there talking about Palestine and what’s happening out there. I understand their point of view [but] who’s talking about Ukraine?

“We’re here to defend democracy and to enable the peace loving people of Ukraine to stand up to Russian oppression. Why is no one talking about that? It’s only about Palestine for some reason.”

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