Defence Exhibitions & Trade Shows

The anchor event for anyone selling to the US Army. Program offices and primes are present in force; ideal for SMEs seeking subcontracting and teaming opportunities.

This is the primary procurement-facing event for Quebec's naval supply chain, where federal ministers have used the platform to announce National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS) contracts and submarine procurement updates — making it a critical intelligence touchpoint for any company seeking Davie, Royal Canadian Navy, or Canadian Coast Guard business. With ~750 participants and ~65 exhibitors, it is compact enough for SMEs and startups to gain direct access to prime contractors such as Chantier Davie and Thales Canada. Pre-scheduled B2B meetings with national and international outsourcers give exhibitors a structured path to new contracts.

Milipol Qatar is the only dedicated homeland security trade show in the Middle East, giving defence and security suppliers direct access to Qatari Ministry of Interior procurement decisions — QAR 842 million in contracts were signed at the 2024 edition alone. The event's official delegations programme (360 delegations from 42 countries in 2024) provides unmatched access to government buyers and military end-users across the Gulf, Near East, and Asia. For SMEs and startups, national pavilions (France, Germany, Italy, North America, Czech Republic, China in 2024) offer a cost-effective route to market entry in one of the world's fastest-growing security markets.

The event offers direct access to allied governance through official NATO working group sessions (including Dismounted Soldier Systems groups) and NSPA user groups, where standards, user requirements, and procurement strategies are discussed. For SMEs and startups, the Innovation Pavilion and Defence Lab provide beneficial-rate access to operators, investors, and decision-makers from 70+ national delegations. Its Central European position and government patronage make it a practical entry point for suppliers targeting NATO and EU markets.

ORЁLEXPO is Russia's primary civilian and sporting-arms trade platform, making it the key venue for domestic and CIS-market access for manufacturers of munitions, optics, soldier systems and dual-use equipment. State-owned defence conglomerates such as Rostec (Shvabe, Technodynamika/IGLA) use the show to debut dual-use products — including anti-drone shotgun cartridges and gyro-stabilised optics — giving SMEs and suppliers a direct read on Russian procurement trends. For international suppliers still operating in the Russian market, it remains the only annual B2B gateway of this scale in the country.

As the first large-scale, continent-wide defence exhibition based in West Africa, AFRIDEX opens direct access to African procurement authorities and ministerial delegations from more than 35 confirmed nations, giving international suppliers and African SMEs a structured route into one of the world's fastest-growing defence markets. The buyer-led, protocol-driven format — with a dedicated Hosted Delegation Programme and curated government meetings — is designed to convert exhibition presence into tangible procurement conversations and industrial partnerships. For startups and emerging innovators, the international pavilion structure and co-location with major primes (Rheinmetall, Embraer, Turkish Aerospace, Norinco) provide rare visibility in a market where relationships with ministries of defence are the critical gateway.

SOFEX is the only dedicated SOF and homeland-security exhibition in the Middle East and North Africa, making it the primary gateway for defence suppliers seeking access to Arab and broader MENA procurement communities. Delegations are headed by Ministers of Defence, Chiefs of Staff, and Special Operations Commanders, meaning exhibitors engage directly with senior decision-makers and procurement directorates rather than intermediaries. For SMEs and startups, the new Elite Badge tier and digital matchmaking programme lower the barrier to securing pre-arranged meetings with high-value buyers.

Access to one of the largest and fastest-modernising militaries in Southeast Asia. Local partnering is essential for market entry.

BAMEX is the only defense trade show in the Sahel region with dedicated live-demonstration days before procuring delegations, giving exhibitors direct access to heads of state offices, ministries of defense, general staff, and procurement authorities from up to 54 African nations in a single venue. For SMEs and startups, it offers a rare early-mover opportunity in one of the world's fastest-growing defense markets, where demand for border security, UAS, counter-UAS, and soldier systems is acute. The organizers project up to $500 million in business volume per edition, making it a commercially high-stakes platform despite its relatively compact size.

SADEX is the primary gateway for international UAS suppliers seeking access to the fast-growing Saudi and Gulf drone market, where government mega-projects (NEOM, Vision 2030 logistics corridors) are generating substantial procurement demand. The previous edition facilitated SAR 1.5 billion in signed business agreements, making it a high-conversion commercial event rather than a purely promotional one. For SMEs and startups, the structured B2B matchmaking and direct access to Saudi government buyers, regulators (GACA), and sovereign-fund-backed investors represent a rare entry point into a market with significant localization incentives.

BIAS is the leading boutique airshow in the Gulf region, offering unrivalled access to high-level military and civil procurement delegations from over 80 countries — a density of decision-makers rarely matched outside Paris or Farnborough. For defence SMEs and primes alike, the show's compact format and dedicated delegations programme create direct pathways to Middle East government buyers and regional MRO/upgrade contracts. Its association with Farnborough International and royal patronage lend it credibility and political weight that accelerates deal-making.

As the largest defence and security fair in Brazil and one of the most important in Latin America, Mostra BID Brasil offers direct access to procurement decision-makers from the Brazilian Armed Forces, public security agencies, and foreign delegations with purchasing power. For SMEs and startups in the BIDS ecosystem, it is the primary national platform to gain visibility with government buyers, attract investors, and forge export partnerships via the Brazil Defense / ApexBrasil programme. The Brasília location — home to all three military commands, 131 embassies, and key ministries — maximises institutional reach in a single three-day window.

Sfitex is the primary procurement and networking venue for the North-West Russian security-technology market, giving suppliers direct access to industrial, oil-and-gas, construction and government end-users who make purchasing decisions for the region. The addition of a UAS/drone-technology section in 2026 makes it a relevant monitoring point for dual-use autonomy and C-UAS developments within the Russian domestic market. For defence-adjacent SMEs tracking Russian security-tech trends or seeking CIS distribution partnerships, it is the most accessible regional entry point.

INTERPOLITEX is the primary domestic marketplace where Russian federal security agencies (MoD, MVD, FSB, Rosgvardiya, MChS, FSVTS) conduct live equipment monitoring and competitive selection, making it the single most direct channel for Russian and CIS-friendly suppliers to reach government procurement decision-makers. More than 50% of visitors hold purchasing authority or directly influence procurement decisions, and the event is formally included in the MoD congress-exhibition plan. For SMEs and startups, the «National Security» innovation competition provides a structured route to expert evaluation and visibility with state customers.

CMPE Shenzhen is one of China's largest dedicated military-police equipment expos, directly connecting suppliers with procurement decision-makers from the PLA, People's Armed Police, public security bureaus, and emergency management agencies — making it the primary gateway for domestic and foreign vendors seeking access to Chinese government and law-enforcement buyers. For SMEs and technology companies in counter-UAS, surveillance, soldier systems, and emergency response, the expo offers direct product demonstration opportunities and procurement leads in a market that is otherwise difficult to penetrate. The event's co-organizers include state defence-industrial conglomerates (CASIC, CASC, AVIC, CSSC, NORINCO Group), giving exhibitors rare visibility with institutional end-users and state-owned enterprise buyers.

With 500+ exhibiting brands, 330+ CISOs, and 30+ ministerial bodies under one roof, Black Hat MEA is the single most concentrated buyer-seller meeting point for cybersecurity in the Middle East — a market projected to nearly double to USD 44.7 billion by 2027. For defence suppliers and dual-use cyber firms, the event provides direct access to government procurement stakeholders and national security decision-makers driving Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 digital resilience agenda. The CyberSeed startup competition and dedicated Investor Programme offer SMEs and startups a structured path to regional funding and government contracts.

A bridge into North African and MENA procurement. Useful for firms diversifying beyond the Gulf into the wider region.

ExpoNaval is the only comprehensive naval and maritime defence trade show in Latin America, making it the primary gateway for global primes and SMEs seeking access to the region's navy procurement programmes, including Chile's newly launched Continuous National Shipbuilding Plan. The structured delegation-meeting agenda — with admirals and commanders-in-chief from across the region — provides direct access to uniformed decision-makers that is rare outside major global shows. The 2026 move to Santiago amplifies political and commercial reach, attracting a wider pool of government and private-sector buyers.

As the first UDT outside Europe and the only dedicated undersea defence trade event in the Asia-Pacific, this is the primary access point for suppliers seeking to engage with AUKUS programme stakeholders, the Australian Submarine Agency, and Indo-Pacific naval procurement decision-makers. The Newcomer Zone and steering committee structure give Australian SMEs and startups a structured pathway onto the global undersea supply chain. With more than half of the expected 2,000 delegates coming from overseas, it offers unmatched export-market exposure for local companies in a single venue.

Airshow China is the primary public window into China's military and commercial aerospace capabilities, making it essential for any supplier seeking to understand PLA procurement signals, Chinese OEM partnerships, or export competition from AVIC, COMAC, CASC, and AECC. With over RMB 280 billion in contracts signed at the 2024 edition and 1,022 exhibitors from 47 countries, it is one of the world's top-five airshows by commercial weight and the single most important venue for accessing China's aerospace decision-makers. For Western and allied SMEs and primes, it provides unmatched competitive intelligence on Chinese aerospace and defence technology trajectories.

The event serves as an entry point for dual-use technology suppliers, sensor manufacturers, and unmanned systems developers seeking commercial and public-sector security contracts in East China. It highlights the integration of AI, autonomous platforms, and counter-UAS capabilities into municipal and critical infrastructure protection.

With over 44,000 trade visitors and 1,180+ exhibitors from 56 countries at the 2026 edition, Intersec Global is the single largest commercial gateway to the fast-growing MENA security and safety market, projected to reach USD 150.5 bn by 2030. Some 83% of visitors are involved in purchasing or procurement decisions, and 50% attend with active buying intent, making it a high-conversion environment for both primes and SMEs seeking regional distribution or government contracts. The event's direct backing from Dubai Civil Defence, SIRA, and the UAE Cyber Security Council gives exhibitors rare face-time with the regulators and procurement authorities that shape regional standards and tenders.

SUS Expo is one of the few dedicated unmanned-systems platforms in the Gulf with a direct link to Saudi procurement and Vision 2030 localisation programmes, making it a high-value venue for UAS, autonomy, and ISR suppliers seeking access to Saudi government and defence buyers. The reported $1 billion deals target and 500+ exhibitor scale signal serious commercial intent, giving SMEs and startups a rare opportunity to engage Saudi defence decision-makers and prime contractors in a single venue. Its Riyadh location places it at the heart of the Kingdom's defence industrial build-up, alongside the biennial World Defense Show ecosystem.

As the world's largest cyber-focused B2B gathering outside the US, Cybertech Global TLV offers unmatched access to Israeli cyber innovation, government procurement decision-makers, and international delegations from over 90 countries — making it a critical deal-making and market-entry venue for defence and dual-use cyber suppliers. The event's deep integration with Israel's National Cyber Directorate and multiple government ministries gives exhibitors direct exposure to national-level buyers and policy shapers. For SMEs and startups, the dedicated Startup Pavilion and pre-scheduled B2B meeting system provide structured pathways to investors, primes, and government customers in a single venue.