New Delhi. The three-day AEDEX+AIRPORT 2026 exhibition and conference opened on September 10 at Yashobhoomi, the India International Convention and Expo Centre in Dwarka, New Delhi, bringing together defence manufacturers, aerospace companies, airport operators, government agencies, research institutions, investors and technology providers.
Organised by the Society of Indian Aerospace and Defence Technologies and Industries (SIATI), in association with exhibition specialist TAFCON Projects India, the co-located events will continue until September 12. The expo is billed as a platform for aerospace, defence, civil aviation and airport infrastructure, meeting at one point, with a focus on business development, technology collaboration and investment.
The event has been supported by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the Ministry of MSME, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Make in India and Start-up India initiatives. Industry bodies including the Aeronautical Society of India, the Drone Federation of India and Air Cargo Forum India are also associated with the programme.
With India accelerating its emergence as a global aerospace and defence manufacturing powerhouse under the Government’s flagship initiatives such as Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat, this maiden International Conference and Exhibition is designed to serve as a premier business and technology platform for defence manufacturers, aerospace companies, government agencies, armed forces, research organisations, technology providers and global investors to showcase next-generation technologies.
India’s aerospace and defence sector has been undergoing unprecedented transformation, aiming to foster strategic partnerships besides exploring new business opportunities across the aerospace and defence ecosystem.
The inauguration programme featured senior figures from India’s aerospace and defence establishment. Dr Abhay A Pashilkar, Honorary President of SIATI and Director of CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories, said the exhibition offered “MSMEs, startups and established companies a unique platform to connect, learn, and expand their business horizons.”
Dr CG Krishnadas Nair, former Chairman of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and former Honorary President of SIATI, said he believed the exhibitions and conferences would “significantly contribute to enhancing India’s global standing in Aerospace, Defence and Aviation innovation.”
Among the prominent exhibitors and participating organisations are Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Bharat Electronics Limited, DRDO and its laboratories, the Indian Space Research Organisation, CSIR-NAL, Cochin International Airport Limited, Apollo Micro Systems, HCL Software and Motorola Solutions.
The exhibitors at the expo covers a broad industrial base. Defence participants include public-sector undertakings, aircraft and missile original equipment manufacturers, shipbuilders, private defence companies, unmanned aerial system and counter-UAS developers, vehicle manufacturers, system integrators, electronics and avionics firms, MRO providers, advanced-materials companies, additive-manufacturing specialists, cybersecurity firms, robotics companies and defence-focused software developers.
Major deep-tech startups like ideaForge, NewSpace Research and Technologies, and Raphe mPhibr are leading this ecosystem, drawing over $700 million in venture funding. The Indian aerospace and defence market is projected to reach US$ 70 billion by 2030, creating significant opportunities for domestic and global industry participants.
The AIRPORT section brings together airport infrastructure and operations companies, ground-support equipment manufacturers, MRO and ground-handling providers, airport safety and firefighting specialists, digital-technology firms, aircraft-interior companies, cargo and logistics operators, sustainability businesses and professional consultants. This combination gives smaller companies and start-ups access to airport operators, procurement officials, investors and international buyers.
India’s airport sector is experiencing rapid transformation and massive infrastructure expansion, solidifying its position as the World’s third domestic aviation market. With the number of operational airports more than doubling since 2014, the sector is backed by the multi-million-dollar investments by the Government and private sector.
The exhibition’s technology agenda ranges from military aviation, avionics, missile systems, autonomous platforms and precision engineering to artificial intelligence, robotics, cybersecurity, simulation, navigation and advanced composites. Airport-focused discussions address smart airports, digital identity, seamless passenger journeys, net-zero aviation, sustainability, cargo, logistics and future airport operations.
Organisers expect participation from more than 300 exhibitors representing over 10 countries, including Australia, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, the United Arab Emirates and the United States. Event information projects more than 600 delegates and approximately 12,000 business visitors.
The programme extends beyond exhibition stalls. Conferences, expert sessions, international pavilions, buyer-seller meetings, business-to-business networking, a CEOs’ Forum and a Start-up and Innovation Pavilion are intended to encourage joint ventures, technology transfer, export opportunities, investment and collaborative research. The organisers also seek to connect defence procurement agencies, armed forces, airport planners, airlines, MRO companies, academics, venture capitalists and international trade delegations.
The expo’s larger objective is to strengthen India’s domestic aerospace and defence supply chain while positioning the country as a competitive manufacturing, export and MRO hub.
For the airport sector, the expo aims to accelerate infrastructure modernisation, digital transformation and sustainable growth.
By placing defence, civil aviation and airport industries on one platform, AEDEX+AIRPORT 2026 seeks to turn policy ambitions under Aatmanirbhar Bharat into industrial partnerships, new investment and commercially viable technology collaborations.
