The UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) hosted eight maritime defence companies at EuroNaval in Paris, held from 3 to 6 November, according to a government statement. The statement calls the event Europe's leading maritime defence and security exhibition, with governments, naval staff and defence industries taking part.
The companies shared the UK Pavilion, and several of them are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The MOD said they were there to present their maritime products to a global market, with a range running from uncrewed surface vessels (MUSVs) to systems that monitor maritime propulsion.
UK-France agreement on counter-drone systems
The MOD cited the UK-France maritime partnership as a visible outcome of the event. UK company MSI-Defence Systems signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Safran covering joint work on, and promotion of, naval counter-uncrewed aerial systems (C-UAS) integration.
John Meldrum, Managing Director at MSI-Defence Systems, said the companies would pool decades of combat-proven gunfire technology experience with what Safran knows about the land and naval C-UAS markets. The MOD said the Anglo-French arrangement supports the NATO alliance and shows how European joint ventures can speed up new defence solutions.
Help for smaller firms
The MOD's defence export SME engagement team also ran what the statement calls a successful 'Meet the Supply Chain' session. Its aim, according to the ministry, was to help SMEs reach European defence buyers by working with primes, mid-tiers and trade associations.
A spokesperson for MonsterCAM, one of the featured companies, said the UK MOD presence gave the SME a real European footprint for its composite tooling, mouldings and autonomous platform capabilities.
Official framing
Oliver Harry, National Armaments International Director, said EuroNaval lets governments, armed forces and industry discuss common maritime security problems and what capabilities will be needed. He said the UK's attendance reflects its commitment to international collaboration and to closer defence relationships in Europe.
The MOD statement also said attention is turning to joint maritime security and growing hybrid threats, and described the UK as a reliable and capable maritime partner. These are the ministry's own characterisations, not independent assessments.
