ADS, the trade group representing the UK’s aerospace, defense, security and space sectors, is promoting the Singapore Airshow as a springboard for its members to get active in the Asia Pacific region. Supporting UK companies assembled at the show’s UK Trade Pavilion, ADS sees a particular opportunity for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to showcase their wares to potential Asia Pacific customers.

“While the traditional defense markets of Europe and the U.S. are currently in decline, UK industry has witnessed considerable growth in the commercial aerospace, space and security sectors, generally, and, in particular, exports to the Asia Pacific region,” said ADS chief executive, Rees Ward. He said there were “clear opportunities” for UK SMEs to collaborate with national primes from countries such as China and Japan.

“We see both China and Japan separately constructing some of the newest aircraft coming to market,” said Ward. “In security, ADS members exported more to Asia than any other part of the world and for defense, export growth in the region increases year-on-year.