DEFEA Defence Exhibition Athens

History and origin

DEFEA was established as Greece's answer to the need for a dedicated national defence exhibition platform, consolidating the country's role as a NATO member with one of the highest defence spending-to-GDP ratios in the alliance. The exhibition is designed to serve both as a commercial platform for the Greek armed forces' procurement interests and as an international showcase for defence industry companies seeking access to South-Eastern European and Eastern Mediterranean markets. Organised every two years, DEFEA has grown rapidly in international participation and institutional weight, attracting the Greek Minister of National Defence and high-level speakers for each edition. A DEFEA Conference series runs alongside the main exhibition, including a standalone DEFEA Conference 2026 held in May 2026 at Metropolitan Expo under the theme "Securing Tomorrow: Defence Strategies for the Future."

The 2027 edition: building on 2025 momentum

The 2027 edition, scheduled 18-20 May, follows the successful 2025 edition which set new records for visitor numbers and delegation participation. Greece's accelerating defence modernisation provides the commercial backdrop: in 2026, Greece's security council (KYSEA) approved a three-billion-euro multi-layer air and drone defence system and the upgrade of 38 F-16 fighter jets. The country has also taken delivery of the first of four French Naval Group FREMM-class frigates (FGS Kimon) and joined the EU SAFE rearmament programme. This procurement surge makes the Greek Ministry of National Defence one of the most active defence buyers in Europe in 2025-2027, giving DEFEA a tangible procurement urgency for exhibitors. Stand booking for 2027 is open at defea.gr/kratisi-chorou/.

Where DEFEA sits in the defence calendar

DEFEA occupies the May slot in the South-Eastern European defence exhibition calendar in odd years, complementing BSDA (Bucharest, even years, May). It competes for attention in the broader spring EMEA defence exhibition circuit with events such as MSPO (September, Poland). DEFEA's geographic positioning at the crossroads of Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa gives it a distinct naval and Mediterranean-security angle that no other major European defence show can replicate, attracting delegations from countries across the Eastern Mediterranean, the Gulf, and North Africa that do not attend Northern and Central European shows as regularly.

Who attends DEFEA

Exhibitors span the full spectrum of global defence primes through to niche Greek and Southeastern European suppliers: land systems manufacturers, naval shipbuilders and systems integrators, aerospace companies, cybersecurity firms, and homeland security technology providers. The 2025 edition hosted 436 exhibitors from 37 countries across 18 national pavilions. The 106 official delegations from 48 countries include chiefs of staff, procurement heads, defence attaches, and ministry representatives. The 30,137 professional visitors from 92 countries include procurement officers, armed forces personnel, defence academics, and policy-makers. The Greek Ministry of National Defence provides institutional backing, ensuring direct access to the domestic procurement decision-making chain.

What the DEFEA format includes

DEFEA combines three days of trade exhibition in the Metropolitan Expo halls with an outdoor display area, a high-level international conference programme, and a structured B2B matchmaking event co-organised with the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN). The conference programme covers international defence and security strategy, capability development, and technology themes. The matchmaking event facilitates pre-arranged bilateral industry meetings between exhibitors and visitors. DEFEA also hosts domain-specific sessions and working groups. Opening hours are 09:00-17:00 on all three days (Tuesday to Thursday).

What DEFEA covers

Core exhibition and conference domains:

• Land defence: armoured vehicles, artillery, infantry systems, unmanned ground vehicles, logistics
• Naval defence: surface combatants, submarines, coast guard systems, port security, maritime surveillance
• Aerospace: fighter aircraft, military helicopters, UAVs, air defence systems, radar and avionics
• National security: homeland security, border protection, counter-terrorism equipment
• Cyber security: military cyber defence, critical infrastructure protection, electronic warfare
• Space: satellite systems, space surveillance, dual-use space technologies

The 2025 edition in numbers (organiser-declared)

The venue: Metropolitan Expo, Athens International Airport "El. Venizelos"

Metropolitan Expo is located adjacent to Athens International Airport "Eleftherios Venizelos" at Spata 190 19, Attica, Greece. The venue offers large exhibition halls capable of hosting 436+ exhibitors. It is directly accessible from the airport arrivals area by short shuttle or taxi (approximately 5 minutes). From central Athens, the venue is reachable via the Attiki Odos ring road (approximately 30 minutes by car) or by suburban railway from Athens city centre to the airport station, then taxi or shuttle to the venue. Multiple hotels are located within 5-10 minutes of the venue near the airport. Contact: (+30) 2.111.801.801; info@defea.gr.

The organiser: ROTA Exhibitions Greece and SEKPY

ROTA Exhibitions Greece (rota.gr) is a Greek professional exhibition management company responsible for the organisation and operation of DEFEA. SEKPY is the Hellenic Association of Manufacturers of Defence Material and serves as the cooperative body representing Greek domestic defence industry. Together with four Greek government ministries (National Defence, Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Citizen Protection, Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy) and supporting associations including EELEA (Hellenic Space Industry Association) and the Hellenic-American Security and Defence Institute (HASDIG), they form the broad institutional framework behind DEFEA.

First time at DEFEA? How to prepare

• Pre-register and receive your badge before arrival. DEFEA enforces professional accreditation; walk-in access without registration is not guaranteed. Register at defea.gr/pre-registration/ and bring your badge confirmation – digital or printed – plus a government-issued photo ID.
• Book your matchmaking meetings early. The EEN matchmaking platform (defea.gr/matchmaking-event/) fills up weeks before the event. Identify exhibitors or visiting companies you want to meet and request appointments as soon as the platform opens.
• Arrive early on day one for the opening ceremony. DEFEA's opening typically features the Greek Minister of National Defence and senior allied guests. The opening session sets the political and procurement context for the entire show and is worth attending even if your primary interest is on the exhibition floor.
• Map out the national pavilions first. With 18 national pavilions and 436 exhibitors, DEFEA is a dense three-day exhibition. Start by walking the national pavilions to quickly identify which countries have strong commercial presences in your sector of interest, then drill into individual stands.
• Prepare for the Athens heat in May. Metropolitan Expo is air-conditioned, but walking between halls and to transportation involves outdoor exposure. Wear comfortable business-casual attire suited to warm spring weather (temperatures in Athens in mid-May are typically 22-28 C).
• Plan your hotel near the airport. Staying near the airport gives you a 5-minute transfer to the venue each morning. Alternatively, staying in central Athens offers cultural access in the evenings but adds 30+ minutes of transit per day.