2026 AFRIDEX

Exhibition Dates: October 26-29, 2026
Venue: Lagos, Nigeria
Frequency: Biennial Event

Exhibition Overview

     This edition is hosted by the Ministry of Defence of Nigeria, Africa's largest economy. Leveraging Nigeria's strategic influence in West Africa, robust defence industrial base, unwavering commitment to regional security, and Lagos' unique advantage as Africa's shipping and economic hub, the exhibition creates a one-stop defence exchange ecosystem integrating policy alignment, technology demonstration, cooperation negotiation and capacity building.
     The exhibition deeply integrates three core components: high-level policy dialogue, live equipment dynamic demonstrations and international defence product exhibitions. It brings together government departments, armed forces, defence industry leaders and senior policymakers from around the world, focusing on core issues such as African defence equipment modernization and regional security collaborative governance.
    The African defence market is currently entering a period of rapid growth with continuously released market potential. According to authoritative forecasts, African defence spending will grow steadily from US$51.2 billion in 2024 to over US$60.25 billion by 2030, maintaining a healthy compound annual growth rate. This trend makes this exhibition the core hub for global defence enterprises to connect with Africa's fast-growing market and seize industry first-mover advantages.

Core Opportunities

• Precision Market Access: Based at the heart of Africa's fastest-growing defence market, connect with buyers, project managers and official delegations from over 100 countries worldwide, directly addressing demands for new technologies, partnerships and investments. For Chinese enterprises, this is an exceptional opportunity to deepen penetration into the African market—Chinese defence equipment offers significant cost-performance advantages with no political strings attached and is already deployed in two-thirds of African countries. The exhibition will help enterprises precisely reach core and potential markets including Ghana, Angola and Nigeria.
• High-Level Strategic Engagement: Conduct direct negotiations with core decision-makers such as defence ministers, chiefs of defence staff and procurement officials, and build industry influence through special sessions and official briefings. Chinese enterprises can use this platform to deepen communication with African defence decision-makers and consolidate cooperative trust.
• In-Depth Cooperation Forging: Collaborate with national governments, prime contractors and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to promote defence capability enhancement, localized development and industrial system co-construction. Leveraging technological and production capacity advantages, Chinese enterprises can explore new models such as localized production and technical cooperation with African partners, aligning with Africa's demand for defence autonomy.
• Accelerated Business Conversion: Reach thousands of professional visitors across all links of the defence industry chain, precisely match genuine procurement needs and accelerate business transformation. Capture market share by capitalizing on the continuous expansion of Africa's defence market.

Exhibitor Value

       Unique Opportunities for Chinese Enterprises
       Built on the foundation of China-Africa traditional friendship, the Belt and Road Initiative, and the institutional guarantees of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), as well as the excellent reputation of Chinese defence equipment in the African market, the exhibition provides a core carrier for Chinese enterprises to break through regional market barriers and deepen local penetration. As a rare opportunity bridging Africa's defence modernization needs with China's intelligent manufacturing advantages, Chinese enterprises can strengthen their core position in Africa's defence industry chain and help elevate China-Africa defence cooperation to higher levels and broader fields.

• Precisely capture the dividends of Africa's defence market, secure a core position in the global defence supply chain, deploy high-potential tracks and build differentiated competitive advantages
• Demonstrate technological and brand strength through the exhibition, consolidate the foundation of cooperation with African governments and industries, radiate globally and enhance international influence
• Join the National Pavilion Zone, leverage official endorsement to boost brand visibility, expand high-end cooperation networks and access scarce resources

Exhibition Statistics

• International Professional Visitors: Over 20,000, covering defence procurement, technology and management professionals worldwide, with African local visitors accounting for over 60%, ensuring precise market alignment
• International Exhibitors: 500, bringing together the world's leading defence manufacturers, research institutions and service providers, covering the complete defence industry chain and offering both exhibition and cooperation opportunities
• Official Visiting Delegations: Over 100 from global defence nations and African regional organizations, with African national defence and security official delegations accounting for over 70%, featuring high-level representation and strong procurement intentions
• International Speakers: Over 200, including defence ministers, senior military officials, industry leaders and experts, sharing strategic and technological trends and building a high-end communication platform

Participation Profile

Core Activities

• Flagship Defence Exhibition: Five dedicated exhibition zones showcasing cutting-edge equipment through diverse formats to demonstrate practical applications and core advantages
• Official Matchmaking Program: Organize thematic negotiations and one-on-one supply-demand meetings on demand to precisely match solutions and improve cooperation efficiency
• Defence Summit: Gather global defence leaders to discuss core industry issues and build a policy dialogue platform
• Live Equipment Demonstrations: Outdoor air-land-sea live demonstrations simulating actual combat scenarios to intuitively showcase equipment operational and adaptation performance
• High-Level Networking: Multi-scenario private social events to connect with core decision-makers and efficiently build and implement high-end cooperation

Exhibits Categories

I. Aviation Domain Equipment
Airborne Platforms: Military aircraft, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicle systems
Airborne Equipment & Systems: Airborne development systems, flight navigation systems, helicopter-specific systems
II. Land Domain Equipment
Main Battle Equipment: Wheeled/tracked armoured vehicles, main battle tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, equipment transporters
Defence & Support Vehicles: Air defence vehicles, bridging vehicles, troop carriers, logistics/cargo vehicles
Individual & Defence Equipment: Body armour, night vision devices, individual communication equipment, man-portable air defence missiles, short-range air defence gun systems
Airport & Logistics Support: Air traffic control equipment, airport facilities, ambulances, field medical equipment, material transport vehicles, integrated logistics support solutions
III. Maritime Domain Equipment
Naval Vessels: Frigates, patrol boats, landing craft, hovercraft, amphibious warfare ships, warships, submarines
Coastal Defence & Detection Equipment: Coastal defence missile systems, shore-based radars, underwater sonar detection systems, underwater unmanned vehicles, anti-frogman equipment
Supporting Equipment & Services: Diving system equipment, coast guard/customs/police mission support equipment, maritime security monitoring, anti-piracy equipment, maritime search and rescue systems, ship maintenance and repair services
IV. Space Domain Equipment & Technologies
Satellites & Ground Equipment: Navigation satellites, remote sensing satellites, communication satellites and supporting ground station equipment
Technical Services: Space situational awareness technologies, satellite data processing and application services
Defence Equipment: Space defence-related technologies and supporting equipment
V. Cybersecurity & Electronic Information Systems
Command, Control & Communications: Communications security, electronic counter-countermeasures, data processing and connectivity, electronic equipment, electronic security systems, radio equipment, simulation systems and devices, defence informatization command and control systems, battlefield situational awareness systems
Electronic Systems & Radars: Antennas, GSM jamming equipment, mobile communication devices, radars, radio/telecommunication transmission equipment, satellite transmission equipment, transmitters/receivers, radar and electronic warfare equipment
Cybersecurity Protection: Next-generation firewalls, intrusion detection and prevention systems, data quantum encryption technologies, endpoint security protection devices, cyber attack traceability systems, monitoring access control