WASHINGTON, March 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Final preparations are underway for more than 575 exhibitors to demonstrate over 3,000 commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) technologically advanced products at the eighth federally produced Force Protection Equipment Demonstration (FPED) VIII. The event will be presented May 17-19 at Northern Virginia's Stafford Regional Airport, which is at Exit 136 off Interstate-95, 40 miles south of Washington, DC.

Manufacturers will demonstrate products from within 20 equipment and systems categories, including items with capabilities for reducing vulnerability of personnel, infrastructure and equipment to threats such as improvised explosive devices, car bombs, suicide bombers, chemical and biological agents and nuclear materials, among others. Demonstrated equipment will be of types that may be employed in either combat environments or domestic settings. All items must be available for procurement and testing within the 90 days immediately following FPED VIII.

The on-site demonstrations feature only commercial off-the-shelf equipment designed to meet current and evolving force protection needs, anti-terrorist requirements and the demands of an increasingly broad range of challenges faced by first-responders when terrorist strikes do occur. The FPED VIII theme is "Force Protection Through Integrated Physical Security Solutions." All attendees are required to register. Online registration is provided at: https://register.rcsreg.com/r2/fped2011/ga/top.html

The Force Protection Equipment Demonstration series was initiated by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as a result of the bombing at Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia in 1996. Since then, an FPED has been held in Northern Virginia every two years. The Department of Defense Physical Security Equipment Action Group administered by the Office of the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Nuclear and Chemical and Biological Defense Programs/Nuclear Matters will direct and sponsor the demonstration. Additional sponsors include the U.S. Department of Energy and the Technical Support Working Group. The demonstration is coordinated and executed by the U.S. Army Product Manager, Force Protection Systems.

The FPED series serves U.S. leaders in defense, homeland security, nuclear security, first-response, and other security fields, as well as in other federal, state and local law enforcement, physical security and first-responder organizations throughout the United States and abroad. It also serves leaders in force protection and anti-terrorism from among U.S. allies. Persons in security and response positions are encouraged to register and attend to see, first-hand, the latest in immediately available force protection, anti-terrorist and first-response equipment and technology. The event is not open to the general public. It is open to defense, law enforcement and other physical security and first-response personnel, and to members of the media who cover defense, homeland security and first-response operations and training.

All persons interested in attending the 2011 Force Protection Equipment Demonstration are required to register for the event. In addition to the online registration link, comprehensive details on the origin, history and mission of the FPED series are provided at http://www.fped8.org

The Eighth Force Protection Equipment Demonstration will be held in Northern Virginia at Stafford Regional Airport, 40 miles south of Washington, DC: http://www.ereleases.com/pic/2010-FPEDVIII-Venue.jpg

More than 3,500 items from 20 categories of force protection and anti-terrorism equipment will be presented at FPED VIII: http://www.ereleases.com/pic/2010-FPEDVIII_Composite.jpg

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SOURCE Force Protection Equipment Demonstration VIII