We attended FEINDEF 2025, the fourth international defence industry exhibition in Spain.

The exhibition took place from 12 to 14 May in Madrid and covered 60,500 m², 25% more than in 2023, spanning four pavilions. A total of 601 companies from 65 countries took part. There were 91 official delegations and more than 44,000 industry professionals registered.

FEINDEF 2025 focused on strengthening European independence in the defence sector. Spain, as one of the leading countries in the region, confirmed its commitment to investing significant funds in the development of its national defence industry, setting a budget target of 2% of GDP for defence. The exhibition reflected the broader strategy of the European Union, which aims to create sustainable and self-sufficient production chains. Through programmes such as ASAP, EDIRPA and EDIP, the EU aims to reduce its dependence on external suppliers, accelerate the development and deployment of new technologies, and actively involve small and medium-sized companies in large defence projects. All these are steps towards making European defence more technologically advanced, flexible and ready to meet modern challenges.

The exhibition showcased:

• Modular armoured vehicles;

• Modern electronic warfare systems;

• High-precision ammunition;

• Unmanned platforms;

• Digital command and control solutions.

The models presented are not concepts for the future, but solutions adapted to the current needs of EU armies.

We held a series of substantive meetings with companies and delegations from France, Italy, the Czech Republic and Spain. We discussed localisation, joint development and licensing. It is clear that interest in international cooperation is growing, especially in those niches where speed and flexibility in shipments are important.