Int'l arms exhibitions to open this month

SEOUL (Yonhap) - A pair of arms exhibitions showcasing domestic and international military equipment will kick off in South Korea later this month, the defense ministry said Wednesday.
The 2011 Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition (ADEX) will take place from Oct. 18 to 23 at Seongnam Airfield just south of Seoul. Busan, some 450 kilometers southeast of Seoul, will host the 2011 Naval & Defense expo from Oct. 26 to 29.
According to the ministry, the ADEX will feature such South Korean equipment as T-50 supersonic trainer jets, K-9 self-propelled guns and the Surion indigenous maneuvering helicopter.
The ministry said about 300 defense companies from 30 countries will participate, including Lockheed Martin, Boeing and the European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company (EADS). The three are in competition to win the bid to sell a new generation of stealth fighters.
Lockheed Martin and Boeing are expected to display the mock-up models of their F-35 and F-15SE Silent Eagle fighter jets, respectively. EADS plans to bring two actual jets, according to the ministry.
Also at the ADEX, defense ministers from Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines and top defense and procurement officials from the United Arab Emirates, Australia and Turkey will be present, the ministry added.
Naval & Defense will host 160 local and international companies from 15 countries, and top naval commanders from 17 countries have also signed up for the event, the ministry said. Lockheed Martin will display its guided weapons and Raytheon will present detection equipment.
The ministry said these two exhibitions should further aid exports of South Korean defense products