Defence events in Australia & Oceania

This is the only dedicated regional defence conference in Australia that places prime contractors and SMEs in the same room for structured, direct engagement — making it a critical pipeline event for Hunter-region and NSW suppliers seeking to enter or grow within ADF programs. Senior leaders from all three services and Joint Capabilities attend, providing rare first-hand insight into current capability priorities and procurement pathways. For SMEs and startups, the small-group discussion format offers direct access to decision-makers that larger trade shows rarely replicate.

As the premier security marketplace in the Asia-Pacific region, this event is the primary venue for global security suppliers to launch products into the Australian market and engage directly with integrators, consultants, government buyers, and critical-infrastructure end users. The co-location with Integrate and Fire Security Expo expands the addressable buyer pool to ~14,500 professionals across converging physical, cyber, fire, and AV sectors. For SMEs and startups, it is the most cost-efficient route to the Australian security procurement community, with free visitor registration and a sold-out floor plan signalling strong buyer intent.

SubSTEC is Australia's only dedicated submarine science and engineering conference, making it the primary access point for suppliers seeking to engage the RAN submarine enterprise, Defence SA, and AUKUS programme decision-makers in a single venue. For SMEs and startups, the SME Spotlight sessions and tiered sponsorship tiers (Bronze upward) offer direct visibility to the naval and government officials who shape sovereign capability investment. With Australia committing to a multi-decade, multi-billion-dollar nuclear submarine transition, SubSTEC8 is the earliest opportunity to position technology and services ahead of major procurement cycles.

Land Forces is the primary marketplace for Australian Army procurement programs and sovereign capability development, making it the single most important annual touchpoint for land-domain suppliers seeking access to Army project offices, CASG/DDA decision-makers, and international prime contractors. For SMEs and startups, the Innovation Pitchfest, Army Innovation Day, and structured B2G meeting programs offer direct pathways to capability insertion and supply-chain entry. The 2026 Perth edition opens engagement with Western Australia's growing defence industrial base and aligns with Australia's 2024 National Defence Strategy priorities.

Western Australia is the hub of Australia's naval shipbuilding and sustainment ambitions, including the Henderson Consolidation precinct and AUKUS-related infrastructure, making this summit a critical forum for suppliers seeking early visibility into upcoming contracts and policy direction. For SMEs and startups, it offers direct access to senior Department of Defence officials, prime contractors, and state government decision-makers in a focused single-day format. Scheduling immediately after Land Forces 2026 (6–8 October, Perth) creates a high-value week for defence industry participants already in the city.

MilCIS is the primary annual touchpoint for the Australian defence communications and information-systems market, giving suppliers direct access to Department of Defence decision-makers and programme managers in a single venue. For SMEs and startups, the tiered expo model (free expo visitor entry, paid conference delegate access) lowers the barrier to entry while still providing visibility to a concentrated defence-procurement audience. The conference's call-for-presentations process also allows technology companies to position themselves as thought leaders in cyber and space domains ahead of major Australian Defence capability investments.

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.

Avalon is the Indo-Pacific's premier aerospace and defence marketplace, drawing 900+ exhibitors and 60,000+ trade visitors including senior procurement decision-makers from the Australian Department of Defence, allied air forces, and major primes — making it the region's highest-density opportunity for contract leads and capability showcasing. For SMEs and startups, dedicated state government pavilions (Victoria, NSW, California, and others) provide subsidised floor space and direct access to prime contractors and international buyers. The co-located Chief of Air Force Symposium, which in 2025 gathered 20 Chiefs of Air Force from around the world, elevates the event's strategic and diplomatic significance well beyond a standard trade show.

The ASCF is Australia's only dedicated forum for space cybersecurity, making it the primary venue for suppliers of satellite security, ground-segment protection, and dual-use cyber technologies to engage with Australian Defence Space Command stakeholders, government agencies, and the growing domestic space industry. For SMEs and startups, the co-located exhibition and structured networking provide direct access to decision-makers in a niche but rapidly expanding procurement area. As Australia accelerates investment in sovereign space capabilities under AUKUS and the Defence Strategic Review, this forum is a key pipeline for identifying emerging requirements and commercialisation opportunities.