At the Milipol fair, held last week in Paris, visitors could compare the multiple models of bulletproof vests, sit aboard a huge armored riot truck or see the screens of the police command post to monitor the Olympic Games. of Paris next year.
The world remains a dangerous place, not only because of wars but also because of crime, public order crises and cyber attacks. The biannual Milipol exhibition, dedicated to the public and private security sector – except for most military equipment – ??has highlighted the vitality of this industry and its interweaving with the technological revolution.
Under the sponsorship of the French Ministry of the Interior, the fair featured 1,100 exhibitors and representatives from 160 countries. What in specialized jargon is called homeland security is a broad concept that includes the fight against terrorism, border control, counterespionage and even civil protection. In the private field, Minipol covers all types of products, from armored doors to protection systems against hackers. There are areas in which the military and the police overlap, for example in the case of drones and firearms.
“It is the business of fear and also of the future, unfortunately,” said a saleswoman from Beretta, the legendary Italian brand of pistols. Indeed, global spending on security stood at 669 billion euros in 2022, with a growth of 4.5% compared to the previous year, and the prospects are encouraging. In France this market represents 130,000 jobs.
This economic branch has multiple actors on the international scene. Small countries count. The case of Israel is illustrative. Others are less known. The firm Armor Technology Solution (ATS), from North Macedonia, had a large stand for its bulletproof vests, helmets and executive-type leather briefcases that, in the event of an attack, the bodyguards of personalities can deploy and convert into projectile-proof panels. .
One of the most powerful companies is the French Thales. It has created the Smart Digital Platform (SDP), a system based on artificial intelligence. It is based on a cross-relation of millions of data in real time for street surveillance or public places such as stadiums. Detects potentially dangerous situations, sudden movements of people, explosions. The objective is to react quickly to coordinate the police. The SDP will be used in law enforcement command posts during the Games.
The Israeli company Corail Systems has developed similar technology, also using artificial intelligence, so that surveillance cameras automatically detect firearms and give an alert. Sometimes a few seconds count to save lives if there is an intrusion by a shooter. Corail Systems is selling its product well in American schools and universities to protect itself from the scourge of indiscriminate killings.
Drones and, above all, anti-drone defense, are experiencing strong demand. In the field of optics, progress does not stop. There are cameras that can read vehicle license plates from 1.6 kilometers away and monitor infrastructure in vast spaces.
Simple ingenuity or a reputation for good value for money is enough for some to survive the fierce competition and powerful multinationals. The Austrian firm Eska, which has been manufacturing gloves since 1912, has designed a dual-use glove for the police. Worn with two layers, it protects against cold and shock, but is designed to quickly release the outer layer and allow full finger mobility for shooting. According to them, no one before invented something so obvious.
Another unique case is the centenary Basque company Larrañaga y Elorza, S.A. and its brand Alcyon. Based in Elgoibar, it was founded in 1918 and today has only three employees. They manufacture the classic steel handcuffs to immobilize detainees. They sell them all over the world. The standard model costs 16 euros. For the current director, Oskar Prieto, there is no secret: “We have a good quality product, made of good steel and at a competitive price.”
