After three days reserved for trade visitors, the International Aerospace Exhibition (ILA) in Berlin opened its doors to the public at the weekend. Fighter jets, transport aircraft and helicopters attracted large numbers of visitors. The Bundeswehr was particularly visible, using large parts of the site as the fair’s biggest single exhibitor.
Besides flight displays and static exhibitions, recruiting young talent was also visibly an important priority. At numerous stands, careers advisers provided information on entry routes, while soldiers offered an insight into their everyday working lives. Visitors could look into cockpits, talk to pilots and learn about the armed forces’ wide range of missions.
Colonel Kristof Conrath of the Air Force was responsible for the Bundeswehr’s presence at the trade fair. In an interview with Euronews, he explained why the Bundeswehr is deliberately showcasing modern systems such as drones, the P-8 Poseidon and air defence systems at the ILA, what role fighter jets are expected to play in future despite the rapid boom in drones, and what the “70 years of the Air Force” anniversary means for this year’s show.
Euronews: As the Bundeswehr’s lead officer, you play a key role in organising its appearance at the ILA. How did you come to take on this task? And what criteria do you use to decide which aircraft, systems and capabilities the Bundeswehr presents here?
