Industry to Demonstrate Off-the-Shelf Integrated Force Protection and Counter-Terrorism Solutions at Northern Virginia Site

WASHINGTON, Sept. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Several thousand federal, state and local leaders and physical security experts are expected to gather at Northern Virginia's Stafford Regional Airport next May 17-19 to observe demonstrations of the latest commercial off-the-shelf technology for countering terrorist threats to personnel, equipment and facilities - in combat zones as well as in domestic settings within the U.S. and abroad.

Military and civilian representatives of the Department of Defense and officials from other federal, state and local government agencies from throughout the United States and allied nations will attend the Eighth Force Protection Equipment Demonstration (FPED VIII). They will examine, firsthand, the best available force protection equipment and systems. The focus will be on reducing vulnerabilities to threats such as improvised explosive devices (IEDs), car bombs, suicide bombers, chemical and biological agents, and nuclear materials, among others, in combat and non-combat environments. Many security items first seen at earlier editions of the demonstrations are now in use around the world.

More than 575 exhibitors will present live demonstrations of nearly 3,000 technologically advanced commercial off-the-shelf products in 20 equipment categories at the federally sponsored and produced FPED VIII. The event has been held every two years since 1997, after the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff determined a need for regular reviews to assure a continuing awareness of the latest advances in commercially available equipment and systems for countering terrorism. The theme for FPED VIII, "Force Protection Through Integrated Physical Security Solutions," reflects a growing emphasis on mutually supporting resources to meet current and evolving force protection needs, anti-terrorist requirements, and the demands of an increasingly broad range of security challenges. Bomb threats in U.S. cities, the now-pervasive use of IEDs in combat zones, and threats to American and allied diplomatic missions around the world represent just a few such challenges.

The venue for FPED VIII, Stafford Regional Airport, is located 40 miles south of Washington, D.C., just off Interstate 95. Online registration will commence on, or shortly after, December 15, 2010. For planning purposes, it is recommended that persons interested in attending familiarize themselves with registration procedures, details on the 20 equipment categories to be demonstrated, and other related information by visiting the FPED VIII website at: http://www.fped8.org

The Department of Defense's Physical Security Equipment Action Group will direct the 2011 edition of the FPED and, with the Department of Energy and the Technical Support Working Group, will sponsor the event. The demonstration is coordinated and executed by U.S. Army Product Manager, Force Protection Systems. All demonstrated items must be available for procurement and testing within the 90 days immediately following FPED VIII.

The FPED series serves U.S. leaders in defense, homeland security, nuclear security, first-response, and other agencies, as well as officials in state and local law enforcement, physical security and first-responder organizations throughout the United States and abroad. It also welcomes leaders in force protection and anti-terrorism from among U.S. allies. Military and civilian personnel in command, physical security and first-responder personnel are encouraged to attend and see, firsthand, the latest in immediately available integrated force protection, anti-terrorist and first-response solutions. The event is not open to the general public. It is open only to the Services, defense, law enforcement and other physical security and first-responder personnel, and to members of the media who cover defense, homeland security and first-responder operations and training.

Photos:

The Eighth Force Protection Equipment Demonstration will be held in Northern Virginia at Stafford Regional Airport, 40 miles south of Washington, D.C., during May 17-19, 2011: http://www.ereleases.com/pic/2010-FPEDVIII-Venue.jpg

More than 600 exhibitors will present nearly 3,500 items from 20 categories of force protection and anti-terrorism equipment during FPED VIII at Northern Virginia's Stafford Regional Airport: http://www.ereleases.com/pic/2010-FPEDVIII-Montage.jpg

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SOURCE Force Protection Equipment Demonstration VIII