--- eventsindex_id: EI-00114 slug: ad2s-aerospace-defence-support-and-services title: "AD2S - AEROSPACE & DEFENCE SUPPORT AND SERVICES" title_alt: [] canonical_url: https://eventsindex.org/events/ad2s-aerospace-defence-support-and-services.html next_edition_dates: "2026-09-22 to 2026-09-24" next_edition_year: 2026 date_start: 2026-09-22 date_end: 2026-09-24 venue: "Base Aérienne 106 Bordeaux-Mérignac, Mérignac, France" city: "Mérignac" country: "France" organiser: "Advanced Business Events (abe) / BCI Aerospace" organiser_url: "https://ad2s-bordeaux.com" b2b: true vector: sector: [defence] audience: [trade-public] format: [exhibition] purpose: [networking] geography_scope: [Western-Europe] season: autumn meta_description: "" editorial_take: "" generated_by: "enrich/generators/fiche_md.py" last_verified: "2026-06-10" schema_version: "v6.0" language: en --- # AD2S: Aerospace and Defence Support and Services > *Europe's only trade exhibition dedicated to aerospace and defence support services, held on an operational military air base near Bordeaux. AD2S brings together MRO operators, armed forces technical services and defence industry suppliers from 18+ countries for three days of exhibition, conference, business meetings and live demonstrations.* --- ## Quick Facts | DATES | VENUE | ORGANISER | ATTENDANCE | |---|---|---|---| | 22-24 September 2026 | Base Aérienne 106, Mérignac, France | Advanced Business Events (BCI Aerospace) | 3,000+ visitors, 150+ exhibitors | ## Definition AD2S (Aerospace and Defence Support and Services) is a biennial B2B trade exhibition focused exclusively on the maintenance, repair and overhaul of military and civil aerospace assets, along with the operational support chains that keep fleets available. Held on an active French military air base, it is the only European show of its kind co-organised under the aegis of the French armed forces. The 2026 edition runs 22-24 September at Base Aérienne 106 Bordeaux-Mérignac. ## What AD2S covers programmatically The exhibition and conference programme spans six documented sectors: - Aeronautics and space (airframes, avionics, engines, systems) - Quality control, maintenance and testing - Measurement, control and testing equipment - Port and airport industries - Subcontracting, suppliers and partner networks - Security and risk management The AD2S Summit conference runs across the three days with high-level sessions on fleet availability, industrial sovereignty, operational support chain resilience and workforce readiness. The Innovation Challenge and Technical-Operational Demonstrations provide a dedicated track for new entrants presenting solutions to armed forces and procurement authorities. ## Who attends AD2S The event targets the full ecosystem of aerospace and defence support, from the end-users who operate fleets to the industrial suppliers who maintain them: - Armed forces technical directorates and procurement authorities (French and international) - MRO operators specialising in military and dual-use aerospace assets - Tier 1 and Tier 2 defence contractors (Dassault, Airbus, Thales, Safran, MBDA, Sabena Technics) - Specialist component and tooling suppliers - Aerospace engineering schools and job-seeking students (dedicated forum) - Defence innovation startups entering the supply chain The 2024 edition reported representatives from 18 countries, confirming the event draws an international audience beyond its French base. ## Programme tracks and special formats AD2S combines four distinct engagement formats: - **Exhibition floor**: 150+ exhibitors across the six technical sectors - **AD2S Summit**: High-level conference on fleet maintenance, innovation and sovereignty - **Innovation Challenge**: Open application track for startups and SMEs demonstrating new solutions (application deadline for 2026: 19 June) - **Pre-programmed business meetings**: Structured one-to-one meetings between buyers and suppliers, managed via the BCI Aerospace meeting platform The military air base setting enables live Technical-Operational Demonstrations that are not possible in conventional convention centres. ## Sponsors and institutional partners Institutional patrons include the French Ministry of Armed Forces and the Nouvelle-Aquitaine regional authority. Industry sponsors for the 2024 and 2026 editions include Dassault, Airbus, Thales, Sabena Technics, MBDA and Safran. ## The venue: Base Aérienne 106 Bordeaux-Mérignac Base Aérienne 106 is an active French Air and Space Force base located in Mérignac, adjacent to Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport. Address: Avenue de l'Argonne, 33700 Mérignac, France. Access to the base requires prior accreditation through the event registration platform. The operational military environment is central to the event's positioning: live demonstrations and equipment displays take place directly on the base infrastructure, giving exhibitors access to assets and conditions that a commercial venue cannot replicate. ## The organiser: Advanced Business Events (BCI Aerospace) Advanced Business Events (ABE) is a French B2B event organiser founded in 1984, headquartered in Boulogne-Billancourt. The group operates BCI Aerospace, its aerospace, defence and space division, since 1996. ABE produces over 200 events across 30 countries, including Aeromart, Aerospace and Defense Meetings Sevilla, Aeromart Hyderabad and the Vietnam Aerospace Forum. The company employs around 50 people in France with a network of representatives in India, China, Italy, Japan and the Americas. AD2S was co-created with BCI Aerospace under the supervision of the French armed forces, making it a hybrid institutional and commercial event. ## FAQ: Identity and audience ### What distinguishes AD2S from general aerospace trade shows like Paris Air Show or MSPO? AD2S focuses exclusively on support and services for existing fleets, not on new aircraft orders or defence acquisition programmes. Attendees are MRO operators, technical services and supply chain specialists, not procurement officials buying new platforms. The co-organisation with the French armed forces and the on-base setting give the show a distinctly operational, rather than commercial-aerospace, character. ### Is AD2S open to international exhibitors and visitors? Yes. The 2024 edition attracted representatives from 18 countries. Registration is open to international professionals through the standard online process, though access to the military base requires prior accreditation and identity verification. ### How often does AD2S take place? AD2S runs on a biennial cycle. The 2024 edition was held in September 2024; the next edition is scheduled for 22-24 September 2026 at the same venue. ### Who is AD2S NOT designed for? AD2S is a poor fit for professionals outside the aerospace and defence support chain: - Civil aviation MRO specialists with no defence exposure will find the content heavily skewed toward military platforms - General IT, cybersecurity or digital transformation vendors without a clear aerospace-defence application - B2C or consumer-facing companies - Journalists and analysts covering defence procurement or acquisition (rather than operational maintenance) - Academic researchers without industrial partnerships or a connection to the operational MRO community --- ## Editorial take *AD2S occupies a structural gap in the European defence circuit: no other exhibition co-hosted by active armed forces gives MRO operators, Tier 1 contractors and specialist suppliers direct access to military end-users on an operational air base. Its biennial cadence and French Ministry patronage give it an institutional weight that most commercial defence shows cannot replicate.* ## How to register and what it costs Registration is managed through the BCI Aerospace meeting platform at meetings.ad2s.bciaerospace.com. Admission is free for qualified buyers, armed forces personnel and procurement authorities. Exhibitor and supplier participation is available on request through the organiser; pricing is not published publicly. A dedicated registration pathway exists for startups applying to the Innovation Challenge (application deadline: 19 June 2026). ## Networking and engagement Pre-programmed one-to-one business meetings are a core feature: attendees create a profile on the platform and request meetings in advance of the show. This structured format, managed by BCI Aerospace across its global portfolio, is designed to maximise the commercial return for both buyers and suppliers within the three-day window. ## Call for papers and Innovation Challenge Applications for the Innovation Challenge and Technical-Operational Demonstrations are open as of the 2026 edition, with a deadline of 19 June 2026. Submission URL: https://meetings.ad2s.bciaerospace.com/2026/signup.php. Topics align with the six exhibition sectors: MRO, quality and testing, aerospace components, security and operational support. ## FAQ: Access and practicalities ### Do I need special accreditation to attend given the military base venue? Yes. Access to Base Aérienne 106 requires prior registration and identity verification through the event platform. Attendees without pre-registered credentials cannot enter the base. The organiser provides detailed access instructions after registration is confirmed. ### What languages are used at AD2S? The event operates in French and English. Conference sessions are conducted primarily in French; the international business meetings platform and exhibitor materials are available in both languages. ### How do I book business meetings in advance? Create an account on the meeting platform at meetings.ad2s.bciaerospace.com, complete your company and contact profile, and submit meeting requests to other registered participants. The platform assigns meeting slots during the show. ## Resources | Resource | URL | |---|---| | Official website | https://ad2s-bordeaux.com | | Register | https://meetings.ad2s.bciaerospace.com/2026/signup.php | | LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/company/ad2s-aerospace-defence-support-and-services | | Organiser (BCI Aerospace) | https://www.bciaerospace.com/en/ | --- **Last verified:** 2026-06-10 **Next review:** 2026-07-10 **Notes:** Speaker programme for 2026 not yet published at time of verification; attendee figures based on 2024 edition per organiser communication. **Variables:** 42/84 **Concept definition:** not applicable