You're watching...
Allison Barrie takes a look at challenging juxtaposition at a tradeshow for land and air defense
Also in this playlist...
Auto-advance: ON
Auto-advance
This transcript is automatically generated
Go to one of these big of military tech events which Allison Barrie how are well known defense specialists has just come back from one in Paris I guess.
-- -- and is certainly it's I always marvel at the these kind of events.
Libya is that these -- selling weapons time is that -- weapons.
I didn't have the animated de -- -- these are all totally above bold these kind of events I mean or off.
Deals being done to get weapons to people like the rebels in -- or any of those groups to I guess we can't track everything that is sold at that -- those kind of event.
Now we can and it's only is very above board and I think people I didn't.
Think plants and I elected -- that -- -- merchants of death and the red -- person walking around and you know it's very self motorists he -- -- -- break it there it costs very sweet -- that hospitality seat they've got -- her.
-- -- little -- is gonna get -- -- in the center each pavilion where you can have these quite meeting so.
-- -- the deals are actually being done no but you on the surface at least.
It's all very Smart all very -- man who oxygen.
Good people doing the selling them.
And who of the people doing the binding.
Right so this year there are 53 countries there and -- more than 55000 people walking for -- around and it and it private companies from those countries accidents and -- though as he does some countries there's very little anonymity division between states and companies but right back is good example that whether it's quite close -- interconnectivity between.
The defense companies and stated.
And who's walking around buying is somebody from the Pentagon for instance walking around buying stuff is somebody from a the UK ministry of defense walking around buying stuff or that these slightly shady characters is our -- -- And -- -- so who's doing.
The bond you know they they they Cleary -- -- you go in say cancer walk in off the street and I think that -- approved.
Peace protestor who is validly waving his flag for the full five days and -- -- him he couldn't get an.
That's -- that's each of these events it's to the discussion of the home country and he's been organized themselves who's going to be needed -- isn't.
That there is a distinction between -- national pavilions and to street exhibitors that they didn't organize around their own countries they sort of have country -- -- right.
You know who's -- find out there's tons guys from the Pentagon there checking at the latest and greatest.
The -- -- and see what our countries come -- your thing but what other countries companies are right showing off just like just focus on the Russia -- -- in the I'm so glad you connect those dots because I -- did that this -- saint.
Russia China -- care is right whatever but when it reports suggests is that in Syria.
Under this -- he -- acquired over 3.5.
Billion dollars and arms from Russia.
3.5 billion with a B that I -- port lap so what Russia may be buying at these events may well we don't know for sure all but could be ending up in the in the hands of the Syrian government and using its -- -- and I can't speculate -- from what I understand from you know my colleagues working -- the rest in peace that you know it's it's Russian made stuff as well so that's why it matters that we look at what their capabilities are and was insisting that they were very bold this year and it has lots of reveals he's going to defend -- it's -- You know bantamweight sort of -- here is our punter Eric killer saying game night here at our terminator think it.
To make that bold statement is the first time racing there and -- which is a mine resistant you know -- prevention -- people.
You know that we its first appearance outside the country's so there there's clearly a signal being sent.
And it does matter because we look it interventions you're right now we have observers on the ground as you say it's completely typical.
You and what you -- say about islands it I didn't hapless nets are all sitting on the ground 300 of them plus not doing anything.
You practice because as break he's got some experience out there you as you -- put out the vehicles aren't necessarily designed to they're not traveling at.
There are calm today -- then donate all the vehicles that -- nothing really we we don't like that at the same time as the UN personnel doesn't appear to do anything quite frequently.
Then not given the power really to do anything by the member nations of the UN whoever's fault you decide that it.
But I think yet there are reasons why Russia -- age you know this as I what I anticipate he's gonna have another that the situation where and you -- very deliberately abstain from voting on say a Libyan no flies on -- okay.
There it seems as though there and it's affected me as typical as possible to intervene in a war.
More aggressive -- -- conventional way it's was just the observers say unarmed.
They're gonna make it as simple as possible and why would they do that one you know economic pipeline in there is a market we might be dialing down but other countries as is.
Very very clear and Paris other countries are ratcheting up.
Which which ones are ratcheting up and take a look China Russia definitely made that it was kind of a go big or go home statement that share and it kind of brought.
And you weapons system of both of surface to air and air to surface in -- or not.
Sort of pulling any punches.
Russia brought a lot of like heavily armored vehicles like -- mentioned those tenants.
Other processor sniper rifles shotguns and full gamut they really when they.
India also had an quite a big looming presence and as we know they're they're big fire.
That they are still scaling up while we're NC UK are scaling down her own equipment.
So that I was racing and and France are also made a very strong showing it's kind of not as those on unexpected since -- home soil but -- -- -- this for quite a few years you know iterations of it.
I was I was impressed and that's important because began to circle back this UN intervention possibility.
That we need another partner we can't they can't always be the that's theoretically -- have the budget for our own forces you know -- cutting back jobs.
You know it's hard to make the argument that we should be spending the dollars of intervening in another country.
I personally believe they have responsibly protect and you know clearly you know obviously between the -- landing and those four and he's been reported those -- top brass here there was talk about it.
Port up top brass in the army have defected you know I think.
And Syria it is without question and I'm not you is -- What am I I'm intrigued by the Libyans and the pakistanis what were they selling it this military tech if -- were they selling a whole bunch of second hand 88 -- seven.
I mean they they haven't they have a high tech military industry.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- And I guess my -- has taught me if you have nothing nice to say that they're not.
Yeah.
Just had no I just.
Meet the need for -- I don't know what -- definitive policy positive.
You know I am not happy about the Paxton situation I was very glad that we switched off you know the the military aid to them I think enough is enough and so it.
Did that they had pavilions there they.
Frankly it was an impressive.
But no -- didn't see certainly dusted off US stuff -- but it beating reaper it can.
You stamp a different brand on Pakistan made or something you know there was about going on -- Uncheck he has an interesting -- they brought a lot of sort of small arms district of things.
That you really strong showings came from Russia and planets.
Bottom line from what what you what you'll took away from this as a Russia and China Iran flexing their military muscle at least in -- show we format.
Possibly -- -- in an actual action form at some point in the future.
And I think there are determined to show they can be relevant and it's still got that know how going on internally very interesting all right Allison -- defense specialists that you can tweet Allison.
At Allison on the school barrier that would be correct -- -- Tweeted her tweet me to have Jonathan -- FNC.
Tom and I believe that is at peace you have home folks who don't -- -- it is definitely their friends -- so it got acts a skeleton that actually is that some special forces vehicles and really -- some fascinating set to go OK so check that out at -- silicone Alison great to have you here.
