Why it matters
Its proximity to the EU institutions and NATO gives suppliers direct access to European procurement decision-makers, national armament directors and official delegations in one location. BEDEX explicitly courts SMEs and startups with a start-up village, pitch sessions and investor access, and the inaugural edition already saw on-site contract signings. For firms targeting Belgium's rearmament and wider EU strategic-autonomy spending, it is an emerging gateway market.
About
BEDEX is a Brussels-based defence exhibition and conference combining an industry trade show, a conference/round-table programme and B2B meetings, with the final day open to the general public. Located near the EU institutions and NATO headquarters, it positions itself as a meeting point for European industry, institutions, armed forces and delegations. The 2027 edition runs two professional days (12–13 April) followed by a public day (14 April) across two halls at Brussels Expo.
Market intel
Moderate pricingmedium confidence
The inaugural 2026 edition drew more than 200 companies from 27 countries and over 70 official delegations, with roughly 11,000 defence professionals plus over 6,000 public visitors. Main sponsors were FN Herstal and RTX, alongside General Atomics, Lockheed Martin, John Cockerill, KNDS, Safran and Airbus. The 2027 speaker roster spans primes, EU/NATO officials and startups (e.g. Airbus, Aselsan, Thales, Tekever, WB Group, Shark Robotics), indicating a broad prime-plus-SME exhibitor base.
Notable exhibitorsFN HerstalRTXLockheed MartinGeneral AtomicsKNDSSafranAirbusJohn Cockerill
AI-researched Mon, 10 August 2026. Estimates from public sources. Verify with the organizer.
Topics
ProcurementDual-useCyberSpaceUAS / Drones
Who it's for
PrimesSMEsStartupsInvestorsInstitutions