Africa's premier aerospace and defence event, held every two years at AFB Waterkloof in Centurion, South Africa. The five-day show uniquely combines three trade-only days with a two-day public air show, drawing military delegations, procurement officials, and defence industry players from across Africa and beyond. Rated among the top six defence exhibitions globally, it serves as the continent's primary marketplace for air, land, and sea technologies.
Africa Aerospace & Defence (AAD) is Africa's only combined aerospace and defence trade exhibition and air show, held biennially at Air Force Base Waterkloof in Centurion, Gauteng, South Africa. Managed through a four-party partnership between the Department of Defence and Military Veterans, Armscor, the South African Aerospace Maritime and Defence Industries Association (AMD), and the Commercial Aviation Association of Southern Africa (CAASA), the event attracts exhibitors from over 30 countries and official government and military delegations from across Africa and worldwide. The 2026 edition runs from 16 to 20 September and is the 50-plus-year-old show's latest biennial instalment.
AAD traces its lineage to two parallel events that both launched in 1975. The commercial aviation magazine World Airnews initiated "Aviation Africa" at Lanseria Airport near Johannesburg in October 1975 as a professional alternative to barnstorming air shows. In the same year, Lt General Bob Rogers of the South African Air Force opened an annual open day at AFB Waterkloof, which evolved into the Defence Exhibition of South Africa (DEXSA). In 2000, Aviation Africa and DEXSA merged to become AAD. The show temporarily relocated to AFB Ysterplaat in Cape Town in 2006 before returning permanently to AFB Waterkloof in 2012. Now in its 50th-anniversary year, AAD is regarded by the South African government as a national economic asset.
The 2026 event is positioned as a milestone edition marking more than five decades of AAD history. Organisers have issued invitations to over 200 official delegations, targeting 100 confirmed delegations from 100 countries. The show is expected to attract no fewer than 300 exhibitors from more than 40 countries, exceeding the 259 exhibitors from 30 countries recorded at AAD 2024. Total attendance is projected at 60,000 visitors across the five days. The exhibition space spans 54,000 sqm including indoor halls, seven hangars, an outdoor mobility track for live land vehicle demonstrations, and national pavilions.
AAD occupies a unique position as the sole major aerospace and defence event on the African continent. Held in even-numbered years, it slots into September – a month also shared with DSEI (London) and DVD (UK, alternate years). Its autumn Southern Hemisphere timing means it coincides with Northern Hemisphere autumn trade show season. No other African event combines a procurement-grade trade exhibition with a live flying display, making it the default gateway for international companies seeking access to African military buyers and for African nations shopping for platforms and technology.
On the buy side, AAD draws senior procurement officers, Chiefs of Arms, and official defence delegations. In 2024 there were 86 official delegations from 33 countries and 22,970 accredited trade visitors from 33 countries. Major original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), tier-two and tier-three suppliers, national pavilions, and government agencies populate the exhibitor list. The air show element attracts 37,000-plus members of the general public over two days, broadening the audience beyond pure defence procurement. Accredited media numbered 390 at AAD 2024. Youth participation is built into the programme through the AAD Youth Development Programme (YDP), which reached 11,000 learners in 2024.
AAD operates in two distinct modes under one umbrella. The three-day trade exhibition (Days 1–3) is open only to accredited media and credentialled trade visitors: it features indoor static displays across seven hangars, an outdoor mobility track where combat vehicles perform live demonstrations, national pavilions, and a static aircraft park. The two-day air show (Days 4–5, typically Saturday and Sunday) adds live flying displays open to the general public. Throughout the event, B2B meetings, high-level delegation briefings, and networking functions run in parallel. A dedicated media centre supports accredited journalists and photographers.
AAD covers the full spectrum of air, land, and sea defence technologies:
| Exhibitors | 259 from 30 countries |
| Official delegations | 86 from 33 countries |
| Trade visitors | 22,970 from 33 countries |
| General public visitors | 37,007 |
| Accredited media | 390 |
| Civilian aircraft and UAVs on static display | 77 |
| National pavilions | 9 |
| YDP learners reached | 11,000 |
AAD is both. Days 1 to 3 (Tuesday to Thursday) are strictly trade and media only. Days 4 and 5 (Saturday and Sunday) are open to the general public as a live air show. Public visitors cannot attend trade days.
AAD is biennial, held in even-numbered years in September at AFB Waterkloof, Centurion, South Africa.
AAD is managed through a four-party consortium: the Department of Defence and Military Veterans (DOD), the Armaments Corporation of South Africa (Armscor), the South African Aerospace Maritime and Defence Industries Association (AMD), and the Commercial Aviation Association of Southern Africa (CAASA).
It is Africa's only event that combines a full-scale B2B defence trade exhibition with a live flying display. No comparable event on the continent offers the same combination of procurement access and public spectacle.
AFB Waterkloof (Air Force Base Waterkloof) is an active South African Air Force base located in Centurion, City of Tshwane, Gauteng province, approximately 35 km south of Pretoria city centre and 50 km east of Johannesburg O.R. Tambo International Airport. The base provides 54,000 sqm of combined indoor and outdoor exhibition space, seven hangars, an on-site mobility track, and apron areas for the static aircraft display and flying operations. Parking on-site is free. Public transport options include Tshwane Bus services and Gautrain bus connections departing from Centurion Railway Station to the base on air show days.
The AAD Expo is not run by a single commercial organiser but through a formal public-private partnership. The Department of Defence and Military Veterans provides the host venue and governmental authority. Armscor (Armaments Corporation of South Africa SOC Ltd) handles defence procurement linkages. AMD (South African Aerospace Maritime and Defence Industries Association) manages industry participation. CAASA (Commercial Aviation Association of Southern Africa) coordinates the civil aviation and airshow dimension. The consortium employs a small permanent executive team (contact: admin@aadexpo.co.za, +27 84 840 3214) supplemented by event management contractors for each biennial show.
AAD is the indispensable gateway to African defence procurement: no other single event offers simultaneous access to government delegations from 30-plus African nations, a live kinetic flying display, and a B2B exhibition large enough to run national pavilions.
Trade visitor registration is managed through the AAD Expo website (aadexpo.co.za/register). Accreditation is required for trade days; applicants must demonstrate a professional connection to the aerospace or defence sector. Exhibitor applications are handled through the Exhibitor E-Zone portal (aadexpo.co.za/portal). Air show public ticket pricing for Days 4–5 is not disclosed in advance on the website; tickets are typically available online and at the gate. Parking is free on all days.
No security clearance is required for standard trade accreditation. Visitors must register in advance and present valid professional credentials. Some restricted areas within the base may require additional authorisation.
The base is in Centurion, a suburban area with extensive hotel, guesthouse, and Airbnb options within 5–15 km. Pretoria and Johannesburg also provide wide accommodation choice. Organisers advise booking early as the event draws large numbers.
Accredited media are permitted professional photography and video equipment. General trade visitors and public visitors may bring personal cameras. Some restricted areas may limit photography.
| Official website | https://www.aadexpo.co.za/ |
| https://www.linkedin.com/company/africaaerospaceanddefence | |
| X | https://twitter.com/aadexpo |
| Register | https://www.aadexpo.co.za/register |
| Programme | not disclosed |