Counter-Drone (C-UAS) events

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.

The fastest way for engineers and early founders to plug into the European defence-tech builder scene, meet operators and get noticed by funds active in the space.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 250+ senior defence, government, and industry representatives attending, this is one of the UK's most focused annual forums for UGV and UAS procurement discussions, making it a direct channel to British Army, NATO, and allied acquisition decision-makers. SMEs and technology startups can access dedicated exhibition and roundtable partnership slots that place emerging autonomous solutions in front of programme managers and capability developers. The co-location with International Dismounted Soldier amplifies cross-domain relevance for suppliers covering soldier systems, robotics, and human-machine teaming.

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.

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.

ДРОНТЕХ is the primary procurement and partnership gateway for Russia's fast-growing UAS and counter-drone market, attracting decision-makers from defence-adjacent sectors including security agencies, energy, logistics and agriculture. For SMEs and startups developing UAS components, counter-drone systems or AI autonomy software, it offers direct access to state customers and industrial primes in a single two-day window. The event's strong government patronage and co-location with НАИС give exhibitors rare visibility with federal regulators and national-project stakeholders.

ТБ Форум — ведущая в России площадка прямого диалога между поставщиками технологий безопасности и крупнейшими корпоративными и государственными заказчиками, формирующими до 80% отраслевых бюджетов. Для SME и стартапов в сфере кибербезопасности, физической защиты и защиты от БПЛА это ключевая точка входа к ЛПР из нефтегаза, ТЭК, транспорта, финансов и госсектора. Присутствие ФСТЭК России с официальной конференцией делает форум обязательным для компаний, работающих с КИИ и сертификацией СЗИ.

The entry point to Gulf defence budgets and offset programs. High-value procurement decisions are made here; relationship-building and local partner introductions matter more than booth size.

Poland is a frontline NATO state rapidly scaling its drone procurement and C-UAS capabilities, making Warsaw an increasingly strategic market for UAS suppliers targeting defence and dual-use contracts in Central and Eastern Europe. Co-location with the broader Warsaw Security & Defence Expo block gives exhibitors direct access to uniformed services, government procurement representatives, and defence-adjacent buyers in a single venue. For SMEs and startups, the event's relatively low entry costs and regional profile offer a cost-efficient route to the Polish and wider CEE market before competing at larger global shows.

Soldier modernisation programs are recurring and broad. A focused venue for firms in wearables, power, optics and edge compute to reach program offices.

Securika Moscow is the dominant market-access platform for the Russian and CIS security and physical-protection sector, with over 93% of visitors reported to influence purchasing decisions — making it a critical venue for lead generation and channel development in the region. For SMEs and startups in surveillance, access control, fire safety, and counter-drone technology, it offers direct exposure to buyers from 80+ Russian regions and all EAEU member states in a single three-day window. The event also provides a rare opportunity to engage with government and law-enforcement delegations that attend officially, giving suppliers insight into public-sector procurement priorities.

Focused access to USMC requirements around Force Design and expeditionary operations. Strong fit for autonomy, C-UAS and logistics suppliers.

DWC is the single most important annual procurement and partnership event for the global UAV supply chain, offering direct access to Chinese manufacturers who dominate 70%+ of the consumer drone market and nearly 50% of the industrial drone market worldwide. For defence suppliers and dual-use SMEs, the dedicated low-altitude security and counter-UAS exhibition zone (Hall 5 in 2026) and associated forums provide unmatched visibility into Chinese C-UAS technology trends and potential export partners. The event's scale — 1,200+ exhibitors and 180,000+ visitors in 2026 — makes it an essential intelligence-gathering venue for any organisation tracking UAS threats, capabilities, or supply-chain dependencies.

CMPE is the largest and most specialized military and police equipment event in Northern China, offering direct access to procurement decision-makers from the PLA Central Military Commission departments, People's Armed Police headquarters, Ministry of Public Security, and major theater commands — making it the primary gateway for domestic and international suppliers seeking to enter China's military and law-enforcement supply chain. For SMEs and technology firms, the concurrent high-level forums and the presence of all major state-owned defence groups provide unmatched intelligence on PLA and PAP procurement priorities and technology roadmaps. The Beijing location concentrates the highest density of Chinese defence institutional buyers of any domestic security trade show.

As the only C-UAS conference focused on the Middle East and Africa, this event provides direct access to procurement decision-makers and military end-users from 40+ nations who are actively acquiring counter-drone capabilities — a market driven by ongoing conflicts across the region and the Red Sea. For SMEs and technology suppliers, it offers a rare concentrated channel to brief Jordanian Armed Forces, GCC militaries, African defence ministries, and U.S./NATO representatives in a single venue. The senior-level, invitation-screened format means exhibitors engage with genuine buyers rather than general audiences.

DefenPol China is one of the very few recurring export-oriented defence trade shows held inside mainland China, giving foreign buyers direct access to Chinese state-owned defence enterprises and SME innovators that rarely exhibit abroad. For international suppliers and dual-use technology firms, it offers a rare channel into China's defence procurement ecosystem and a platform to meet Belt and Road country delegations in a single venue. The show's biennial cadence and growing international visitor base from 40+ countries make it a meaningful intelligence-gathering and partnership-development event for companies tracking Chinese defence export trends.