SECURITY ESSEN 2026 | LIVE SHOW VISIT WWW.EURODEFENCEEXPO.DE FOR MORE INFORMATION


AUTOMOTIVE SUPPLIERS, MECHANICAL ENGINEERING FIRMS AND TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES ARE DEVELOPING SOLUTIONS FOR DRONE DEFENCE, RECONNAISSANCE, AND THE PROTECTION OF CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE


OLIVER P. KUHRT CEO of Messe Essen


“Demand for security and defence technologies is growing faster than it has for years. This is no longer benefiting only traditional defence companies – SMEs and technology providers are also opening up new markets.” The figures speak for themselves.


The German defence sector employs well over 100,000 people. At the same time, the country’s military spending rose to more than €97 billion in 2025 – an increase of 24 per cent from the previous year and a time when an increasing number of companies from traditional


industries are entering


security-related business fields. “Automotive suppliers, mechanical engineering firms and technology companies are developing solutions for drone defence, reconnaissance, and the protection of


infrastructure,” explains Kuhrt. “The area of dual-use technologies, in particular, is currently experiencing very dynamic growth.” This development will be clearly visible in Essen. Companies


such


as AIRSENSE Analytics, analyticon instruments and


ARX Robotics


exemplify technologies that can be used both in civilian disaster response scenarios and in military operations. Established names such as BINDER, Bernd Siegmund and Alexander Binzel Schweisstechnik


are increasingly


applying their expertise to security- related applications. Leading players such as KNDS Deutschland Tracks, a key European provider of


military land systems,


will be among the 300 exhibitors, as will Heckler & Koch, one of the most recognised manufacturers in the field of infantry weapons. For many observers, the concurrent running of the two shows marks a critical evolution in how Europe conceptualises and executes its security the


strategy. By dismantling


protection and military for


critical


traditional silos between civil readiness,


the joint exhibition will create new opportunities


exchange and


cooperation across the civil security and defence sectors. As geopolitical tensions demand greater faster


agility, technological adoption, and


robust civil-military co-operation, this combined event at Messe Essen. The concurrent events at Messe Essen provide a platform for the


companies discussing


technologies, capabilities and partnerships needed to strengthen security and resilience in Europe. Kuhrt added: “For


today, the key question is no longer whether they engage with security, but how strategically they do so. The EURO DEFENCE EXPO makes transformation


this visible and brings together the key stakeholders.” • WWW.SECURITY-ESSEN.DE | 51


JOINT INTELLIGENCE Beyond


the joint event serves as an unparalleled intellectual


the exhibition booths, hub


through its high-level conferences. A primary highlight is the EUDEX Conference, organised by CPM, which


brings together commanders, policy


and industrial leaders to debate European deep-strike capabilities, industrial scaling, and readiness targets for 2030. Simultaneously, the NATO Joint Power


Air Competence Centre


(JAPCC) holds its annual conference at the venue, attracting over 400 high-ranking international military personnel. By overlapping with Security Essen’s extensive forum program on civil drone defence and fire protection, the combined event fosters a rare ecosystem of cross-disciplinary dialogue. A cyber security expert from


a civilian financial institution can seamlessly network with a NATO logistics commander, sparking collaborative strategies to safeguard the continent’s shared digital and physical infrastructure.


military makers,

Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52