Saab, BAE Systems not to exhibit in Singapore Airshow 2010

BAE Systems will not participate in Singapore Airshow 2010, the first time Europe's largest defense contractor has not exhibited at this show. A spokeswoman for BAE said the company's focus in the Southeast Asian region had, for the moment, moved away from the air sector to potential naval and land programs. "The air side in Singapore is not a big priority for us for the time being, but we remain extremely committed to looking at the tri-service market as a whole in the region," she added. BAE was one of several major exhibitors who following the 2008 show complained to the exhibition organizers about the absence of military delegations on their stands, said an industry executive. A Saab spokesman said the company was focusing more on national exhibitions in places like Thailand, India and Malaysia rather than attending the regional show in Singapore. The Swedish military aircraft, missiles and systems producer opted out of the Paris Air Show last year but says it will be at the Farnborough air show in the U.K. this summer. The spokesman said the company might reconsider the position for Singapore 2012, by which time it will have Gripen fighters operational in the region following the signing of a deal to sell the aircraft to Thailand. An official from the Singapore Airshow & Events (SAE) office denied there was a problem, stating there were about the same number of delegations and exhibitors this year as there were in 2008.