Indonesia marked the successful conclusion of the 10th edition of the Indo Defence Expo & Forum 2025 on 14 June in the capital city of Jakarta. Recognised as one of the premier platforms for showcasing cutting-edge innovations and technologies in land, naval, and aerospace defence industries, this year’s event attracted significant global attention.
Over the course of four days, the exhibition welcomed more than 40,000 visitors, strengthening international ties and cooperation across governments, delegations, and defence companies. The event featured participation from over 1,000 local and international companies representing approximately 60 countries, with 35 national and international pavilions highlighting the latest in defence technologies.
The Indo Defence Expo was held alongside two key events – the Indo Aerospace Expo & Forum and the Indo Marine Expo & Forum – making the combined exhibition one of the largest and most comprehensive defence, aerospace, and maritime gatherings globally. This provided a vital networking opportunity for decision-makers, defence authorities, and industry leaders, promoting competitiveness and facilitating the signing of agreements and memoranda of understanding across various sectors.
Strategic Forums and High-Level Dialogues
Beyond technology displays, this year’s Indo Defence Expo featured a series of high-level strategic forums, offering a deeper, more impactful experience. These discussions focused on the future of defence cooperation within the Asia-Pacific region, trends in joint manufacturing and technology transfer, and the strategic importance of localising defence industries to ensure national security sovereignty.
The presence of senior military officials, decision-makers, and defence thought leaders from various countries provided an ideal platform for exchanging insights on rapidly evolving regional and global security challenges. Discussions emphasised the growing threats posed by cyber warfare, the increasing role of unconventional systems in modern conflicts, and the expanding importance of artificial intelligence in shaping both warfare and peacekeeping operations.
Strong UAE Participation Highlights National Defence Advancements
The UAE showcased a robust national presence at Indo Defence 2025, supported by the Ministry of Defence and the Tawazun Council. This participation reflects the country’s ongoing efforts to elevate its global standing in the defence industry sector.
Occupying a 704-square-metre national pavilion, the UAE highlighted more than 90 advanced products and systems spanning land, naval, and aerospace defence, as well as cybersecurity and communications technologies—demonstrating the rapid progress of the UAE’s defence capabilities.
The pavilion brought together a host of companies from the EDGE Group, including prominent names such as Caracal, Lahab, Al Tariq, Halcon, Al Jasoor, NIMR, Abu Dhabi Ship Building, Sign4l, KATIM, Oryx Labs, Horizon, Beacon Red, and ADASI, among others.
These companies showcased the latest innovations and technologies across various fields of defence technology and manufacturing. Additionally, AMMROC was present as part of the UAE’s exhibiting entities.
The UAE’s participation in the Indo Defence Expo represents a strategic move towards opening new markets, strengthening industrial collaboration with Asian partners, and exploring promising opportunities that support the development of a knowledge- and technology-driven economy.
A Vital Platform for Collaboration and Partnership
The UAE pavilion served not only as a display of technological excellence but also as a dynamic platform for bilateral meetings and technical discussions with counterparts from other participating nations. These engagements focused on potential partnerships in industrial cooperation, technology transfer, and joint manufacturing, particularly with Indonesia and key countries in South and East Asia.
There was a clear emphasis on expanding avenues of collaboration, bolstered by growing international confidence in the UAE’s capabilities and its model of integrating technology with economic empowerment and strategic autonomy.
High-Level Visits Underline UAE’s Rising Defence Profile
The significance of the UAE’s presence was further underscored by high-profile visits to the national pavilion. His Excellency Prabowo Subianto, President of Indonesia, toured the UAE pavilion, receiving an overview of the innovative solutions and technologies presented by leading UAE defence companies.
Also visiting the pavilion were His Excellency Abdullah Salem Al Dhaheri, UAE Ambassador to Indonesia and ASEAN, and Major General Hamid Mohammed Al Rumaithi, Commander of the UAE Naval Forces, who engaged with representatives of the exhibiting UAE firms.
In line with the expanding defence cooperation between the UAE and Indonesia, Admiral Muhammad Ali, Commander of the Indonesian Navy, visited the pavilion to explore areas of potential collaboration in the maritime and defence sectors.
These high-level visits highlight the growing importance of the UAE’s role in the global defence landscape and its commitment to building strong international partnerships that foster regional and global security.
