ISR & Sensors events

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.

EIAS is the only dedicated international airshow in Africa and the Arab world outside the Gulf, giving defence suppliers direct access to Egyptian Armed Forces procurement leadership, African air forces and Middle Eastern civil aviation authorities simultaneously. The VIP Delegation Programme channels over 100 government and military delegations directly to exhibitor stands, compressing procurement cycles. For SMEs and startups, it offers a cost-effective entry point into two of the fastest-growing defence and commercial aviation markets globally at a show that already drew 200+ exhibitors in its inaugural edition.

MSPO is one of the highest-value contracting forums in Europe: the 2025 edition saw over PLN 6 billion in defence contracts signed on-site, making it a critical venue for business development in Central and Eastern European procurement markets. Poland's status as one of the EU's most active defence spenders — with the largest NATO GDP-percentage defence budget — gives suppliers direct access to live procurement pipelines and senior ministry decision-makers. For SMEs and startups, the Canadian Lead Nation programme, B2B matchmaking, and the DEFENDER awards offer structured pathways to partnerships, export opportunities, and visibility with global primes and government buyers.

AAD is the only aerospace and defence exhibition on the African continent, making it the principal venue for OEMs, primes, and SMEs seeking to reach African military procurement officers, Defence Chiefs of Arms, and government delegations across more than 30 countries in a single show. For exporters and startups entering African markets, AAD offers direct access to senior decision-makers that no other continental event replicates. The South African government's National Event designation and Armscor's lead-partner role ensure high-level institutional backing and a buyer-rich environment for deal-making.

The best single venue for reading CEE and eastern-flank security priorities and meeting regional decision-makers. Strong fit for firms positioning around the NATO eastern flank.

DEFSEC Atlantic is the primary gateway to Canada's East Coast defence procurement ecosystem, offering direct access to Canadian Armed Forces, NATO DIANA representatives, and federal procurement officials at a single venue. The sold-out exhibition floor and a B2B meetings programme expanded by 40% for 2026 signal strong commercial momentum, making it a high-ROI event for SMEs and startups seeking to enter or grow within Canada's $30 billion+ ongoing defence procurement pipeline. Its focus on naval systems, cyber, AI, and aerospace aligns with Canada's commitment to reach 2% GDP defence spending.

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.

As the successor to the long-running Koblenzer IT-Tagung, the Bonner IT-Dialog is a focused access point to Bundeswehr requirement-owners (particularly the ZDigBw) and other public-sector decision-makers shaping Germany's defence-IT and resilience programmes. For SMEs and defence-tech startups, its showcase exhibition and networking with primes, agencies and research institutions offer visibility on where future procurement and capability priorities are heading. Its tight, high-level format makes it well suited to relationship-building rather than mass lead generation.

As Poland's first trade fair focused exclusively on drones and counter-UAS systems, DSE gives suppliers, SMEs and startups direct access to Polish uniformed services, military, critical-infrastructure managers and energy/telecom operators at a time of heightened regional demand for C-UAS capability. The event's live demonstration zones and decision-maker networking offer a practical route to test products and reach procurement-relevant buyers. Its debut status makes it a lower-cost early-mover opportunity in a fast-growing Central European security market.

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.

Best Defence is the most accessible entry point into Ontario's defence-industrial ecosystem — Canada's largest — offering direct, affordable face-time with CAF procurement officers, federal/provincial decision-makers, and prime contractors at a fraction of the cost of CANSEC or major trade shows. For SMEs and startups, the Technology Showcase provides a curated on-stage pitch opportunity directly in front of CAF and government buyers. The ODA's official backing adds institutional credibility and a growing member network, making it a high-ROI event for companies seeking Canadian programmes of record or teaming partners.

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.

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.

NATO Edge is the single most direct access point for defence and technology suppliers to NATO's procurement pipeline — attendees receive early visibility into NCIA's upcoming contracting requirements and can pitch directly to NATO end-users and decision-makers from all 32 Allied nations. For SMEs and startups, the Innovation Theatre format and dedicated networking create a level playing field alongside primes, making it one of the few events where a small company can realistically advance a business relationship with NATO. The 2026 Türkiye edition also opens doors to the Turkish defence industrial base and signals NATO's growing operational focus on the southern flank.

With European defence budgets expanding sharply, Warsaw is a frontline hub for air-defence procurement decisions, making this summit a rare small-room forum for suppliers to engage directly with programme leads and government buyers on cost, acquisition speed, and co-production pathways. The agenda explicitly targets 'pilot projects, framework paths, test windows, co-production options and financing routes', offering SMEs and startups concrete entry points into European air-defence programmes. The intimate format — 30+ senior speakers, no large expo floor — means networking yields direct decision-maker access rather than booth traffic.

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.

The AAF is the only dedicated African air power forum that guarantees exhibitors structured face-to-face meetings with sitting Chiefs of Air Staff, making it a uniquely efficient business-development channel for aerospace and defence SMEs and primes seeking procurement conversations across 30+ African air forces. The event has grown rapidly — from ~300 attendees at its 2022 inaugural to over 2,000 at the 2025 edition — signalling accelerating African defence aviation budgets and procurement intent. For suppliers of UAVs, ISR systems, air defence platforms, C2 solutions, and MRO services, the AAF is the primary African entry point for relationship-building with decision-makers who control fleet modernisation programmes.

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.

For defence SMEs and suppliers, IDS is one of the few niche forums where procurement decision-makers, programme offices (including DE&S and allied equivalents), and NATO representatives discuss active capability gaps and acquisition priorities in a small-group setting — making it highly efficient for business development and shaping bids. Co-location with the Uncrewed & Autonomous Systems conference in 2026 broadens the addressable audience to include the fast-growing autonomy and UAS procurement community. The early-bird deadline and tiered partnership packages make it accessible to smaller companies seeking thought-leadership or exhibition exposure alongside primes.

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.