Drone & UAS events

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.

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.

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.

EDIF is one of the few European forums explicitly designed to convert operational frontline experience — particularly from Ukraine — into co-production agreements, procurement pipelines, and industrial partnerships, making it a direct route to Dutch and broader EU MoD decision-makers. For SMEs and startups, the curated B2B matchmaking and presence of investors and venture capital funds creates concrete pathways to funding, certification support, and integration into European supply chains. The forum's backing by national ministries, NIDV, and RVO gives participating companies direct access to government procurement officers and defence attachés in a single venue.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The event has emerged as a central European meeting point for the dual-use autonomy sector, connecting primes, SMEs and startups with government, military and academic decision-makers. Its explicit dual-use and defence focus—featuring companies like Rheinmetall and Quantum Systems alongside a dedicated startup zone—gives suppliers direct access to procurement-relevant audiences and live demonstration opportunities. For SMEs and startups it offers a lower-cost route into defence and civil autonomy markets, partnerships and investor exposure.

The premiere 2026 edition drew over 25,000 visitors and 360+ exhibitors, signalling strong demand for a Central-and-Eastern-European security and defence platform at a time of heightened Polish defence spending. Its integrated drone, rescue and firearms tracks plus a substantive conference give SMEs and startups direct access to uniformed services, public administration and R&D institutions such as Łukasiewicz. Ministry of National Defence patronage and attendance by senior decision-makers make it a relevant procurement and networking venue for dual-use suppliers.