Defense boom propels Eurosatory 2026

With its 2,500 exhibitors, 42 national pavilions, 66 exhibiting countries and 185,000 m² of surface area, Eurosatory sees things big in 2026. “Eurosatory is not just an international exhibition, it is global, bringing together the entire defense industrial and technological base (BITD) that counts in the worldâ€explains its general commissioner, Charles Beaudouin. The show was already full three months before its opening and attendance should exceed the 43,000 visitors recorded in 2024.

Outside of France and its 770 listed exhibitors, the presence “The largest in terms of number of exhibitors and surface area per country”it is Germany, which brings 216 companies to Villepinte (according to the show catalog), including 104 new exhibitors, followed by the United States (175 companies). The giant Rheinmetall will rub shoulders with the electronics manufacturer Hensoldt, the propulsion and transmissions specialist Renk, and the drone manufacturers Stark and Quantum Systems… but also, for the first time, the automobile manufacturer Volkswagen.

“Germany is giving itself the means to regain its power”according to Charles Beaudouin. She “also relies on its civil activity, particularly in the automotive sector, a perspective which remains in draft form at this stage for Franceâ€notes the show commissioner.

The Association of German Security and Defense Industries (BDSV, Federal Association of the German Security and Defense Industry), chaired by the boss of Rheinmetall, Armin Papperger, is obviously present to represent the interests of its 300 members.

Unsurprisingly, Ukraine is strengthening its presence at the show: “Ten Ukrainian companies exhibited in 2024, there are 70 today,” counts Charles Beaudouin. “It is the seventh most important participant of the show »he specifies.

The conflict and operational requirements have greatly contributed to developing the defense industry, to the point that the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense has its own flag. “There is a real Ukrainian offensive to sell its equipment and find European or global partnerships. They have very strong expertise, their equipment “set the trend, in all areas”he adds.

The international and geopolitical context, as well as the increase in arms spending, which peaked at $2,887 billion globally in 2025, according to the latest Sipri estimates, benefits the show from defense and land and air security. Eurosatory attracts companies in the sector, so much so that a new exhibition hall has been opened to meet the influx of requests.

“The situation we are currently experiencing at the geopolitical level is close to a possible conflict in Europe, for three main reasons. The Europe-United States disunity over NATO has never been so strong. Never since the creation of NATO has there been such distrust between Europeans and Americans over the Alliance. Then, the Ukrainian front is stabilized. Finally, Europe is far from having rearmed. She learned, but did not reset. When it comes to defense, we can be surprised, but we have no right to be helpless.”warns Charles Beaudouin.

“For the moment, in the absence of adequate budgets, the awareness of European states is certain”he says, emphasizing that Eurosatory, “C’est du concret” : “The fact that we have 2,500 exhibitors allows us to identify real trends”. Among these trends, the general commissioner of the show cites the “montée en gamme” drone and anti-drone solutions: “The drone is adapting, and so is the fight against drones. The reference becomes the swarm of zone saturation drones, powered by artificial intelligence and able to evolve in a scrambled environment.. According to him, “With several million drones in service on each side”Ukraine and Russia hold the upper hand in this matter.

In this regard, the delay accumulated by Europe, but also by the United States, would be difficult to catch up: “Both the Americans and the Europeans are very far from these standards, which is particularly worrying given the permanent deadly threat of drones, observed both in Ukraine and in Iran, in different conditions of employment and in view of the significant feedback accumulated over several years. years »explains the former commander of the Technical Section of the Army.

“We can clearly see that the war has changed. It is no longer enough to catch up, the challenge is great.”underlines Charles Beaudouin. It also signals the development of a new capability segment, linked to the consequences of the use of drones: the long-range surface-to-surface missile, “which has established itself as a new key player in the “remote warfareâ€. And who says missile, says anti-missile. The notion of “iron edema” will impose itself on everyone. We have delayed too long, now we will have to build”he argues. An arms race that seems endless, but which allows the development of new technologies.

Charles Beaudouin discusses Europe’s delay compared to the United States in the field of “deeptech”, capable of developing disruptive technologies on the battlefield.: “Weakened by the fragmentation of its market, Europe must rise to the challenge of becoming a tech power, otherwise it will be downgraded in a competition that today sees the United States and China clash”. According to him, “The United States sees deeptech as a factor of development and superiority”.

Enough to whet industrial appetites, especially in the defense sector. The militarization of deeptech is “A fundamental trend”he predicted. “Beyond bringing financing and new processes, deeptech could also make it possible to have “high performance, low costâ€. Driven by civilian markets, it will transform the defense industry, because tech companies are called upon to coexist with “traditional” companies.” He goes even further : “deftech, the “defense†of deeptech, will bring about a real revolution in capabilities affairs†and should therefore logically give rise to financing needs.

Because one of the other new features of the 2026 edition is the creation of a specific division dedicated to financing. Banks, investment funds, insurers, European institutions and public actors will be spread across « 120 m², du jamais-vu. It’s a great success and the signal of a changing world.”welcomes Charles Beaudouin. “I think it’s related to tech. They see these champions coming, who are civil-military, and therefore reassuring, because there is a potential civilian market in which they can help scale up.”he analyzes.

AI, robotics, sensors, cyber, energy solutions, new materials… Disruptive innovations, driven by around sixty international startups, are brought together within the Eurosatory Lab. A pole which could also be extended for the next edition in 2028.