2026 IDEAS
Exhibition Dates: November 24-27, 2026
Frequency: Biennial
Venue: Karachi, Pakistan
Exhibition Introduction
IDEAS is a top-tier defense exhibition in South Asia and one of the region’s major large-scale events. It is hosted biennially in Pakistan by the Defense Export Promotion Organization (DEPO) and the Ministry of Defense Production (MoDP). Since 2000, IDEAS has achieved consistent success and has become a landmark event in the global defense exhibition circuit. As a premier defense industry expo, IDEAS serves as the most important platform for promoting international defense systems in the region.
IDEAS 2026, the most strategically significant exhibition in the region, will once again bring together all industry players worldwide to showcase the latest technological innovations. This 4-day event is exclusively open to trade visitors and senior official defense representatives.
Participation Advantages
It is an excellent platform to introduce new defense products to specific target audiences in Central Asia, South Asia, West Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Engage directly with renowned representatives, procurement experts, and buyers from around the world, and gain new industry leads. Showcase your technological achievements through Mobility Displays. Leverage extensive coverage from print and electronic media, as well as IDEAS’ dedicated newsletters, to connect with your target niche markets.
This offers valuable opportunities for personal and interactive marketing, providing broader exposure than any other marketing channel. IDEAS also provides favorable sponsorship and branding opportunities for participants looking to enhance their influence during the exhibition.
Previous Edition Data
The exhibition covered an area of over 14,000 square meters, with 10 exhibition halls. It welcomed 72 participating countries, 309 international delegates, 557 exhibitors from 42 countries, and over 75,000 professional visitors. During the event, 87 high-level meetings were held, 6 speakers delivered presentations, and 82 cooperation agreements were signed.
Exhibition Categories
Category A: Weapons - Ammunition - Turrets:
Air defense systems; air, ground, and coastal defense systems; anti-tank/breaching weapon systems; army ordnance and ammunition; mortars and mortar ammunition; specific weapon systems and ammunition; guns and ammunition for armored vehicles (>40mm turrets); medium-caliber weapons and ammunition (20-40mm) with turrets and mounts; small-caliber weapons and ammunition (<20mm) with turrets and mounts; close-in weapon systems; landmines and explosives; signaling and lighting equipment; igniters and ignition devices; propellants, explosives, and charges; fuses, homing heads, and guidance systems; Category A components and parts; upgrades for Category A equipment.
Category B: Vehicles - Aircraft - Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs):
Main battle tanks and modified versions (>30 tons); armored vehicles (<30 tons); light armored and non-armored vehicles/other vehicles; robotic vehicles; aircraft - UAVs; parachuting and airlifting; vehicle engines and transmission systems - amphibious propulsion systems; fuels, lubricants, storage, and supply; Category B sub-components and parts; upgrades for Category B equipment.
Category C: Battlefield Management / C4ISTAR (C4ISTAR + Target Acquisition):
C4I systems; observation - driving/navigation and positioning; measuring devices - observation - target acquisition; automatic liaison systems - fire coordination systems; military aerospace; military telecommunications networks; communication equipment; vetronics - on-board systems; detection, information collection, and identification systems; camouflage and countermeasure equipment; power supply; optical cables - optical fibers - insulation; Category C components and parts; upgrades for Category C equipment.
Category D: Training & Simulation - Support - Protection - Operational Logistics:
Training and simulation; support and equipment for personnel; medical care, casualty handling, hospital, and rescue site hygiene; conventional operational protection; NRBC (Nuclear, Radiological, Biological, Chemical) protection; operational logistics and facilities; upgrades for Category D equipment.
Category E: Special Equipment: Engineering Operations - Interdiction - Terrain Clearing:
Engineer field operations; water crossing and diving; bridging and obstacle crossing; terrain clearing and explosive ordnance disposal; homeland/domestic security; maintenance operations - population control - Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT) (note: humanitarian rescue); upgrades for Category E equipment.
Category F: Industrial and Logistical Support:
Equipment support and packaging; engineering - manufacturing; measurement and testing systems; general parts and components - material handling; upgrades for Category F equipment.
Category G: Involved Industrial Sectors:
Testing, measurement, and verification; power, electronic technology, electronics, and computers; thermal and electrical energy; manufacturing and industrial applications of metals, plastics, textiles, and composites; hydraulics; petroleum and chemical industries; optics and optoelectronics - lasers; pyrotechnics; robotics; simulation; telecommunications.
Category H: Service Sectors:
Professional institutions; teaching and training institutions; government-related security organizations (police, civil defense); research institutions and laboratories, testing agencies; security and homeland defense consulting firms, technical assistance; service providers and suppliers; organizers of defense exhibitions and defense-related events; news - professional publications - publishing - printing; others; software houses.
Category I: Naval Vessels and Equipment:
Vessels; submarines; naval ships; naval equipment.
