The XXIII edition of the International Air and Space Fair (FIDAE) concluded in Santiago, Chile, where it brought together more than 420 exhibitors from 45 countries, adding 200 official and professional delegations from all over the world, and with more than 100,000 visitors. . The Fair was organized, like every two years, by the Chilean Air Force (FACH) and took place from April 9 to 14, on the grounds of the II Air Brigade of the FACH.
FIDAE is recognized as the most important aeronautical, aerospace technology and defense exhibition in the southern hemisphere. On this occasion, the event was dedicated to the meeting of companies and agents in the fields of Defense, Aircraft Maintenance, Civil Aviation, National Security, Space Technology and Airport Services.
“The presence and deployment that the United States makes globally at fairs such as FIDAE 2024 establishes a technological capacity that far exceeds other nations in terms of supply, variety and technological advances,” he told AFP on May 6. Dialogue Guillermo Holzmann, defense analyst and academic at the University of Valparaíso, Chile. “The US places special attention on maintaining and increasing joint training operations, improvement activities, deepening and coordination of strategies; and command and control of weapons systems in Latin America. The US is the perfect complement to update each of them or incorporate new systems.”
The 2024 Space Conference marked the beginning of the event, as a summit dedicated to space innovation and exploration that attracted experts and industry leaders, who shared their knowledge and visions on the future of space exploration, its challenges and multilateral cooperation. . The inauguration of this third edition was attended by the Minister of Defense of Chile Maya Fernández; and Air General Hugo Rodríguez González, commander of the FACH, among other authorities.
“Through these types of instances, the FACH has the opportunity to join forces and disseminate work in this matter, to promote knowledge and the rational, sustained and sovereign use of space for the benefit of the community,” he said during the inauguration. Gen. Rodríguez. “This Space Summit has the participation of academics, scientists, space and science organizations, both national and foreign, with presentations on topics as diverse as remote sensors, space and economic technology, satellite communications and space exploration opportunities.”
The USA, present
For 30 years, the United States has participated in the Fair in a special way; This time it was present with a pavilion of 85 companies, the most important contingent in this version of the fair. The delegation was led by U.S. Army Undersecretary Gabe Camarillo; U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Evan L. Pettus, commander, Air Force South; and Maj. Gen. Julian C. Cheater, deputy deputy assistant secretary of the U.S. Air Force.
“There are almost 200 members of the US Army, Air Force and Armed Forces present at FIDAE 2024,” said US Ambassador to Chile Bernadette Meehan during the fair. “For us, the armed forces relationship between the United States and Chile, after 200 years of official relationship, is one of the most important and strongest in the entire hemisphere.”
Several units from the Air Force (USAF) and the United States Space Force (USSF) participated, including the USAF F-22 Raptor aerobatics team, which performed precision maneuvers to demonstrate the unique capabilities of the fifth-generation combat aircraft, the US Embassy reported. In addition, the MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aircraft and three C-130J Super Hercules transport ships, from the Texas Air National Guard, were present. All this together with the Alas Azules parachute team, from the USAF Academy, who showed their skills to the public.
“The solid representation of the United States in FIDAE 2024 speaks to us of coherence with its foreign policy, with its defense policy associated with the air force armies, which it considers as allies,” said Holzmann. “A delegation of such magnitude is an indicator of their confidence in the country where the fair is held and they consider it an ally.”
Among the aerial demonstrations, aircraft such as the F-22 Raptor stood out; the F-16 Fighting Falcon with the Block 50 and Block 15 models; the F-5 Tiger III; the A-29B Super Tucano; the DHC-6 Twin Otter and the MH-60M Black Hawk and Bell 412 helicopters. The acrobatics of the Smoke Squadron of the Brazilian Air Force were also acclaimed; and the Halcones High Acrobatics Squadron, of the FACH, among others.
In addition, the XX Meeting of Logistics Commanders of the South American Air Forces was held, from April 9 to 11, which brought together the logistics commanders of the air forces of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay , along with the invited countries Spain, the United States, Portugal and the Dominican Republic. These authorities presented and exchanged experiences, to find opportunities for improvements in the logistics processes of each of their forces.
Within the framework of FIDAE 2024, the Ministers of Defense of Chile and Brazil Maya Fernández and José Mucio Monteiro, respectively, held a high-level meeting to deepen their strategic defense relationship, reported the Chilean Ministry of Defense.
The meeting resulted in a Declaration of Intent for Satellite Cooperation, which seeks to promote and enhance bilateral work in this area; with a focus on training, training and exchange, in addition to technical cooperation and exploration of other joint work.
