The sights of AUSA 2023 Day 1 [PHOTOS]

231009_AUSA_crowd_MEHTA — Huge crowds in atrium at AUSA (Photo by Aaron Mehta/Breaking Defense)

AUSA 2023 — With massive crowds and long lines, the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) conference for 2023 officially kicked off today, where more than 650 defense contractors are showing off their wears to thousands of attendees from the Pentagon, elsewhere in the US and around the globe.

Breaking Defense has a full team on the ground to cover the event. Check out our full coverage HERE and, below, see just a few of the sights so far.

231009_aerovironment_drone_SMITH — AeroVironment’s Jump 20 VTOL fixed-wing drone lingers above visitors at AUSA 2023. (Brendon Smith / Breaking Defense)

231009_hanwa_armor_SMITH — The South Korean defense contractor Hanwha brought out the big guns for AUSA 2023. (Brendon Smith / Breaking Defense)

231009_rex_ground_robot_SMITH — Israel Aerospace Industries put its Rex robotic ground vehicle on display at AUSA 2023. (Brendon Smith / Breaking Defense)

231009_rheinmetall_grenade_launcher_SMITH — Rheinmetall’s SSW40 automatic shoulder-fired grenade launcher, along with its munitions, on display at AUSA 2023. (Brendon Smith / Breaking Defense)

231009_SAS_greek_drone_MEHTA — Greek firm SAS showed a loitering munition at the Hellenic Pavilion at AUSA 2023. (Aaron Mehta / Breaking Defense)

231009_soldier_mascot_MEHTA — Attendees pose with a soldier mascot at AUSA 2023. (Aaron Mehta / Breaking Defense)

PHOTOS: AUSA 2023

PHOTOS: AUSA 2023

A Blade-55 UAV from Alare Technologies lingers over visitors at AUSA 2023. (Brendon Smith / Breaking Defense)

At AUSA 2023, Boeing's Compact Laser Weapon System (CLWS) was seen fitted on a Polaris MRZR vehicle. (Tim Martin / Breaking Defense)

From Flyer Defense, "The Beast" Multi-Purpose Mobile Fire Support System is shown on the AUSA 2023 show floor. (Brendon Smith / Breaking Defense)

This squat robot, seen on the show floor at AUSA 2023, is made by L3Harris as a counter-UAS system. (Brendon Smith / Breaking Defense)

Leonardo DRS showed off a Stryker vehicle outfitted with its own c-UAS system at AUSA 2023. (Brendon Smith / Breaking Defense)

Among the many products on display by Northrop Grumman were several chain guns. (Brendon Smith / Breaking Defense)

The defense firm Recluse showed off its hybrid electric cargo UAV. (Brendon Smith / Breaking Defense)

AeroVironment's Switchblade launcher sits on display at AUSA 2023. (Tim Martin / Breaking Defense)

General Dynamics 10-ton TRX-Shorad tracked robotic weapon at AUSA 2023. (Brendon Smith / Breaking Defense)

HDT Global's Wolf robotic system, configured with some serious firepower, at AUSA 2023. (Sydney Freedburg / Breaking Defense)

SARISA SRS-1A quadcopter equipped with a rocket launcher at AUSA 2023.

Qinetiq's RCV-L on display at AUSA 2023. (Brendon Smith / Breaking Defense)

A Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected, better known as MRAP, vehicle by Canadian firm Roshel sits on display at AUSA 2023. (Brendon Smith / Breaking Defense)

At Sig Sauer's booth at AUSA 2023, the firm displayed a small but very heavily armed robot. (Sydney Freedburn / Breaking Defense)

A model of a Textron Systems M3 Ripsaw Remote Combat Vehicle takes aim (at the ceiling) at AUSA 2023. (Brendon Smith / Breaking Defense)

Built for wide-area recon, Rohde & Schwartz's COMINT system is designed for radio monitoring and radio location. The system is shown here at AUSA 2023. (Brendon Smith / Breaking Defense)