Senior figures from the global defense and security sector are expected to arrive in Israel for Defense.Tech Expo 2026, the country’s largest defense and homeland security exhibition, scheduled to open on February 17 at Expo Tel Aviv.
The exhibition, organized by the Steir Group, is being held for the first time and is positioned as a meeting point for Israeli defense industries, international delegations, senior decision-makers and technology investors. Organizers estimate the investment in the event at approximately 2 million shekels.
According to the organizers, heightened global interest in Israel’s combat-proven defense technologies—combined with growing concerns over geopolitical instability—has driven strong international participation. Dozens of foreign delegations are expected to attend, with several senior figures also taking part as speakers and panelists.
Among the prominent guests is Admiral Giampaolo di Paola, former Italian minister of defense and former chairman of the NATO Military Committee. He is scheduled to participate in discussions on strategic threats and military readiness in Europe.
Also attending is Alex Moore, a general partner for defense at the 8VC investment fund and a board member at Palantir. Moore will take part in a public conversation alongside Boaz Levy, CEO of Israel Aerospace Industries, and former Israeli Air Force commander Amikam Norkin, focusing on the global arms race and evolving threat landscapes.
From the United Arab Emirates, Dr. Chaouki Kasmi, chief innovation officer at the Technology Innovation Institute and president and CTO of EDGE Group, is expected to join a panel on global Defense.Tech trends together with former Rafael CEO Yoav Har-Even. EDGE Group president Rodrigo Torres will also attend and participate in a session on international collaboration moderated by Frederic Landau of the Kinetica investment fund.
EDGE Group, a major defense and technology conglomerate headquartered in Abu Dhabi, operates across more than 140 countries and maintains partnerships with international and Israeli defense firms. The participation of its senior leadership is seen by industry observers as a signal of growing interest in expanding cooperation and investment in Israel’s defense technology sector.
Additional international participants include John Isemann, senior manager for international business at Shield AI; Michael Gale, group CEO of Al Liwan Group (Abu Dhabi); Ishan Shagal, founder and CEO of ANAVIA (Switzerland); and Raul Rikk, head of development at Estonia-based Milrem Robotics and a former senior NATO cyber official.
The conference program, curated by a steering committee led by Brig. Gen. (res.) Ran Kochav, former commander of Israel’s air defense array, will focus on urban warfare, border control, perimeter defense, unmanned systems, robotics, artificial intelligence, weapons systems and homeland security. Live demonstrations by startups and established firms are expected to showcase operational capabilities.
A dedicated closing session titled “Women on the Frontline of Defense.Tech” will feature senior female leaders from the industry, including Vered Haimovitz of Elbit Systems, Michal Mor of Smart Shooter, and Eliora Lubin of 8VC.
The exhibition is sponsored by Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Foreign Trade Administration at the Ministry of Economy, the Israel Export Institute and the Federation of Israeli Chambers of Commerce. Participating companies include Israel Aerospace Industries, IWI, Israel Shipyards, and a range of Israeli and international Defense.Tech firms.
Organizers estimate that nearly 50 companies will exhibit at the event, alongside military delegations, civil defense bodies, economic stakeholders and representatives from NATO and allied countries, positioning Defense.Tech Expo as the most extensive defense and HLS exhibition currently held in Israel.