Making its debut at Asian Aerospace -- the world's third biggest air show -- is the AGS 120 Armoured Gun System by Britain's BAE Systems.

The menacing, army-green machine guards the BAE pavillion where it towers above visitors.

It is a 120-mm auto-loading gun mounted on the chassis of a light tank, and designed for field combat after low velocity air drops from a C-130 Hercules military transport or similar aircraft, the manufacturer said.

US defence contractor Raytheon showcased its air and missile defence systems, bunker-busting bombs and undersea warfare armaments.

Among those on display was the green-coloured MK48 torpedo which is described as a "cost-effective heavyweight" weapon launched from submarines to wreak havoc on enemy ships.

A smaller gold and black torpedo, the MK54, is designed for launching from ships and aircraft against submarines.

Both torpedoes are "autonomous" once launched, allowing them to "search, detect, classify and attack its programmed target," a Raytheon official told AFP.

Raytheon's Excalibur, taking its potency from the name of legendary King Arthur's sword, is a GPS-guided projectile that can be fired from a howitzer.

Israel's defence and aerospace industry came to Singapore in full force, showcasing the Javelin, described as a 21st-century jet trainer, airborne signal intelligence systems and its deadly laser-homing attack missile.

On display were unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), called drones, among them a mini-UAV described as "indiscernible as a mosquito".

A gray, long-winged drone called the I-View 1001 also graced the Israeli pavillion.

Visitors could be seen gawking at the variety of guns from Smith and Wesson, while others marvelled at the high-tech electronic gadgets for soldiers of the future. Among them were devices that give troops digital capabilities like sending video images to their commanders.

But while deadly weapons were among the crowd pullers at the exhibit, gleaming models of the latest passenger planes, luxury business jets and gigantic commercial aircraft engines -- symbols of prosperous and peaceful societies -- were displayed alongside them.

"Perhaps we need these weapons of war to keep the peace," a Southeast Asian army officer said as he viewed the displays.

As US firm Boeing's F-15 Eagle fighter jets screamed overhead in an aerobatic display, earthbound visitors were busy appreciating the company's futuristic 787 Dreamliner in the comfort of the air-conditioned exhibition hall.

Shiny models of Boeing's wide array of commercial aircraft stood side-by-side with its F/A-18F Super Hornet multi-role fighter, Apache Longbow attack helicopters and CH47 Chinook transport helicopters.

The European Aeronautic Defence and Space (EADS) Company had sleek models of its double-decker Airbus A380 passenger airliner advertised next to its defence products.

Enormous aircraft engines from Pratt and Whitney and GE towered over the hall, their rotating blades looking as if they would swallow visitors.

Smaller players from China, Russia, Hong Kong and hosts Singapore also made their presence felt.

Russia's Sukhoi was, surprisingly, pitching a civilian aircraft instead of its respected multi-role fighters.

China promoted a range of civilian aircraft and the JF-17 multi-role warplane, co-developed by the China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation and the Pakistan Air Force.

Among the exhibits in Singapore's stable were an all-terrain vehicle with a mounted gun, a super-rapid advanced mortar system, and avionics upgrades systems for fighter and trainer jets.

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