--- eventsindex_id: "EI-01400" slug: defea-defence-exhibition-athens title: "DEFEA Defence Exhibition Athens" title_alt: ["DEFEA", "Defence Exhibition Athens", "DEFEA Athens"] canonical_url: "https://eventsindex.org/events/defea-defence-exhibition-athens.html" next_edition_year: 2027 date_start: "2027-05-18" date_end: "2027-05-20" venue: "Metropolitan Expo" city: "Athens" country: "Greece" organiser: "ROTA Exhibitions Greece" organiser_url: "https://defea.gr/" b2b: true vector: sector: [defence] audience: [military, government, industry, procurement, policy] format: [exhibition, conference, matchmaking] purpose: [business, networking, procurement, policy, education] geography_scope: [pan-EMEA, global] season: spring meta_description: "DEFEA, 18-20 May 2027, Metropolitan Expo Athens. Greece's biennial defence exhibition: 436 exhibitors, 30,137 visitors, 106 delegations, 48 countries." editorial_take: "DEFEA is Greece's strategic defence shop window at a moment when Athens is running one of NATO's most ambitious rearmament programmes, giving the exhibition an authentic procurement urgency that most peer shows cannot match." generated_by: "claude-max-cowork" last_verified: "2026-06-10" variables_filled: 46/58 language: "en" schema_version: "v6.0" --- # DEFEA Defence Exhibition Athens > *DEFEA is the official defence exhibition of Greece, a biennial international event held at Metropolitan Expo in Athens, organised under the auspices of the Hellenic Ministry of National Defence by ROTA Exhibitions Greece in cooperation with SEKPY, the Hellenic Manufacturers of Defence Material Association. The next edition takes place 18-20 May 2027 and brings together land, naval, aerospace, national security, and cyber defence systems exhibitors alongside 100+ official delegations and 30,000+ visitors from across the world.* --- ## Quick Facts | DATES | VENUE | ORGANISER | ATTENDANCE | |---|---|---|---| | **18-20 May 2027** | **Metropolitan Expo, Athens** | **ROTA Exhibitions Greece** | **30,137 visitors (2025)** | | Biennial, 3 days (09:00-17:00) | Spata, Attica, Greece | Under auspices of Hellenic MoND | 436 exhibitors / 106 delegations (2025) | --- ## Definition DEFEA (Defence Exhibition Athens) is a biennial international defence exhibition and conference series held at Metropolitan Expo in Athens, Greece. It is organised by ROTA Exhibitions Greece in cooperation with SEKPY (Hellenic Manufacturers of Defence Material Association) and under the institutional auspices of four Greek government ministries: the Ministry of National Defence, the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, the Ministry of Citizen Protection, and the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy. The exhibition covers land, naval, aerospace, national security, and cyber defence domains. The 2025 edition attracted 436 exhibitors from 37 countries, 18 national pavilions, 106 official delegations from 48 countries, and 30,137 visitors from 92 countries. The next edition is scheduled for 18-20 May 2027. ## 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)* | | | |---|---| | Exhibitors | 436 | | Exhibitor countries | 37 | | National pavilions | 18 | | Official delegations | 106 | | Delegation countries | 48 | | Visitors | 30,137 | | Visitor countries | 92 | | Duration | 3 days (18-20 May 2027 for next edition) | --- ## FAQ - Identity and audience ### Is DEFEA Greece's official national defence exhibition? Yes. DEFEA is organised under the auspices of the Hellenic Ministry of National Defence and in cooperation with SEKPY, the Hellenic Manufacturers of Defence Material Association. It is Greece's primary platform for defence procurement engagement and international industry showcasing. ### Does DEFEA include live demonstrations? The venue at Metropolitan Expo does not have an airfield or outdoor range for live fire demonstrations. DEFEA focuses on static exhibition displays, conference presentations, and structured meetings. Companies requiring live demonstration capability for aircraft or large systems should consult the organiser regarding any off-site display options. ### Is there a matchmaking service at DEFEA? Yes. DEFEA operates a structured B2B matchmaking event in cooperation with the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN). Participants can pre-register for meetings through the EEN platform (defea.gr/matchmaking-event/). Early registration is recommended as meeting slots fill ahead of the event. --- ## 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. --- ## Editorial take *DEFEA is Greece's strategic defence shop window at a moment when Athens is running one of NATO's most ambitious rearmament programmes, giving the exhibition an authentic procurement urgency that most peer shows cannot match.* --- ## How to register and what it costs Visitor pre-registration is available at defea.gr/pre-registration/. Stand enquiries for exhibitors are at defea.gr/kratisi-chorou/. Access to the exhibition is for trade professionals; professional accreditation is required. Pricing for stands and visitor categories is not publicly disclosed; contact the organiser at (+30) 2.111.801.801 or info@defea.gr. For official military delegations, contact should be made through the military attache or defence ministry channel well in advance. ## FAQ - Access and practicalities ### How do I reach Metropolitan Expo from the city of Athens? By car, take the Attiki Odos ring road (E94/E75) toward the airport; the venue is signposted from the highway. Travel time from central Athens is approximately 30-40 minutes. By suburban rail, take the Proastiakos rail service to the airport station, then take a taxi or the venue shuttle to Metropolitan Expo. By metro, Line 3 (blue) connects central Athens to the airport; journey time from Syntagma Square is approximately 40 minutes. ### What language is used at DEFEA? The primary working language is English, with Greek used for domestic audience sessions. Conference presentations are typically delivered in English. Exhibitor materials are available in English and often additional languages depending on the exhibitor's origin country. ### Can I attend only the conference without the exhibition floor? Conference attendance and exhibition-floor access are both part of the DEFEA registration. Specific arrangements for conference-only participants can be queried directly with the organiser. The matchmaking event requires a separate EEN platform registration. --- ## 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. --- ## Resources | Resource | URL | |---|---| | Official website | https://defea.gr/ | | LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/company/defea/ | | X | https://twitter.com/DEFEA2025 | | Pre-register (visitor) | https://defea.gr/pre-registration/ | | Stand enquiry (exhibitor) | https://defea.gr/kratisi-chorou/ | | Matchmaking event | https://defea.gr/matchmaking-event/ | | Events programme | https://defea.gr/events-programme/ | | The venue | https://defea.gr/the-venue/ | --- **Last verified:** 2026-06-10 **Next review:** 2026-12-10 **Notes:** All figures (436 exhibitors, 37 countries, 18 national pavilions, 106 delegations, 48 countries, 30,137 visitors, 92 countries) are organiser-declared for the 2025 edition, sourced directly from defea.gr (fetched June 2026). The DEFEA Conference 2026 was confirmed as held in May 2026 at Metropolitan Expo under the theme "Securing Tomorrow." Greek rearmament context sourced from defea.gr news (Greece F-16 upgrade, FREMM frigate delivery, SAFE programme participation). Next edition dates 18-20 May 2027 confirmed on defea.gr homepage. **Variables:** 46/58 **Concept definition:** applicable