The Singapore Airshow (Chalet D54) is consistently among the world’s top three airshows and has aspirations of taking over the top spot in 2012. According to Angelica Lim, the Singapore show’s general aerospace and defense group manger, the 2012 event expects 259 delegations from more than 80 countries, more than 900 exhibitors and in excess of 53,000 paid visitors.

The popular aviation leadership and Asia Pacific security conferences, she said, differ from those of other shows in that the key speakers are buyers rather than sellers. The 2012 edition is also expanding to accommodate the changing role of defense in the face of growing terrorism, piracy and other issues.

“The Land Defense Pavilion is a new feature designed to meet the changing defense landscape,” said Lim. “This dedicated pavilion underlines the significance of high-tech, land-based defense products and technologies.”

Lim also pointed out that throughout the Asia Pacific region, much of the ground inventories of the various militaries are in the later phases of their life cycles, and most cannot be repaired or upgraded to meet new challenges in a changing world. More to the point, she added, emphasizing the importance of the Singapore Airshow on a global stage, is that “thirty percent of global land-defense spending over the next five years will come from the Asia Pacific–approximately $1.65 trillion.”

Also new next year will be an expanded Russian presence with a larger country pavilion, and, for the first time, a Japanese pavilion. There are also new corporate hospitality suites to allow firms to host clients “in comfort and style.”

Lim noted that in terms of return on investment, the Singapore Airshow is consistently among the world’s top three airshows, “and usually among the top two.” But she gave impression that it will settle for nothing less than the top spot.