With Largest International Presence At FIDAE Airshow 2024, United States Builds On Strong Regional Aerospace And Defense Partnerships

Santiago, Chile and Waldwick, NJ, USA / April 9, 2024 — The centuries-strong partnership between the United States and Chile is prominently on display at the 2024 FIDAE Airshow, the region’s largest aerospace and defense exhibition, with more than 70 American companies exhibiting, a variety of military and commercial aircraft on-site, and a high-level delegation of diplomatic, military, and industry leaders in attendance at the Arturo Merino Benítez Airport show site in Santiago. 

The U.S. is the largest international presence at the show, accounting for 25% of total exhibitors. That footprint underscores America’s long-standing commitment to cooperation with Chile on a wide range of regional issues including trade (anchored by a 2004 Free Trade Agreement), multilateral diplomacy, security, academic exchanges, military cooperation, and science. U.S. aerospace and defense sales to Chile in 2021/2022 totaled nearly $1 billion, 10% of the total $10 billion sold to all of South America, according to the International Trade Administration. 

The centerpiece of America’s presence at the show is the 2,000-plus sqm USA Partnership Pavilion, organized since 1994 by Kallman Worldwide, Inc., in coordination with government agencies including the U.S. Departments of Commerce, Defense, State, and Transportation. The Pavilion is America’s headquarters on-site, a high-profile showcase for 74 participating U.S. exhibitors to maximize their success at the event, and a forum for all to share ideas and insights.  

“As we embark on our third century of bilateral relations with Chile, our nation’s participation at the FIDAE Airshow this week reflects how the United States and our partners and allies across the region continue to innovate, learn, and grow stronger together,” said U.S. Ambassador to Chile, Bernadette Meehan. “For example, two decades after we signed our Free Trade Agreement in 2004, and three decades since Kallman Worldwide first stepped onto this stage, our nation’s partnerships here continue to grow as a model for promoting trade, facilitating investment, and defending workers and the environment,” she said. 

The Pavilion roster includes 38 exhibitors that are new to the show and 24 new to the market. A total of 21 states are represented, including five stand-alone state pavilions —Alabama, Arizona, California, Mississippi, and North Carolina — within the larger U.S. space, all looking to generate new business and create more jobs back home by growing exports, expanding their presence in the region, and/or recruiting overseas partners to establish or participate in stateside operations. 

Kallman Worldwide President and CEO Tom Kallman said the nation’s perennially strong participation at FIDAE reflects industry’s confidence in the show as a gateway to Latin American markets. 

“Over the three decades that our company has represented FIDAE in the United States, we’ve seen this event withstand every test it’s faced — economic, political, organizational, even an earthquake — to become one of the premier gathering places of the global aerospace and defense community,” said Kallman. “To be here in 2024 with 25% of the show’s exhibitors under the USA Partnership Pavilion banner, including partners who have been with us for all those 30 years — Lockheed Martin, L3Harris, Bell Helicopter, Boeing, GE Aircraft Engines, Raytheon, Teledyne FLIR, the U.S. Department of Defense, and the Chilean Air Force — is testament to the integrity of our partnerships and friendships in Chile, and the consistent return on investment our customers and our countries realize from participating in FIDAE. This show helps build businesses, create jobs, and attract talent.”