In the fast-paced world of private equity, staying ahead of industry trends and forging strategic partnerships is crucial. For firms focusing on the defense sector, attending top conferences is an invaluable opportunity to gain insights, network with key players, and explore potential deals. As we look ahead to 2025, the landscape of defense conferences promises to be rich with opportunities for dealmaking and industry advancement. Below, we present a curated list of the top defense conferences for private equity firms seeking to enhance their dealmaking capabilities in 2025.
Top Defense Conferences for Dealmaking in 2025
- Milipol Paris
Location: Paris, France
Date: November 18–21, 2025
Website: https://en.milipol.com
Description: Milipol Paris is the world’s leading event for homeland security and safety, supported by the French Ministry of the Interior. The biennial exhibition draws thousands of professionals from across law enforcement, civil protection, and cybersecurity sectors. It showcases the latest advancements in surveillance, threat detection, emergency response, and AI-driven security technologies. For private equity firms, Milipol offers a critical opportunity to identify scalable technologies and promising companies operating in high-demand security niches. With a global exhibitor base and attendance from government and institutional buyers, it provides direct visibility into procurement trends and innovation pipelines—making it a strategic touchpoint for sourcing investments in public safety, cyber resilience, and perimeter security.
- Munich Security Conference
Location: Munich, Germany
Date: February 14–16, 2025
Website: https://securityconference.org
Description: The Munich Security Conference is the foremost platform for global dialogue on international security policy. It convenes heads of state, military leaders, and senior officials to discuss emerging threats and defense strategies. Though not an expo, the conference provides unmatched insight into geopolitical risks, defense priorities, and multilateral cooperation. For PE firms, attending MSC offers strategic value by highlighting where nations are allocating defense budgets and where future technologies may receive government backing. This intelligence is vital for investment targeting and risk assessment in defense tech, cybersecurity, and geopolitical risk mitigation platforms.
- RSA Conference (USA)
Location: San Francisco, California, USA
Date: April 28 – May 1, 2025
Website: https://www.rsaconference.com
Description: RSA Conference is one of the world’s largest cybersecurity events, gathering tens of thousands of professionals to explore data protection, threat intelligence, cloud security, and enterprise solutions. The conference features hundreds of sessions, a massive expo hall, and the prestigious Innovation Sandbox contest for emerging startups. For private equity firms, RSA is an ideal venue to identify promising cybersecurity ventures, assess market traction, and understand enterprise pain points driving demand. It also helps firms evaluate competitive positioning and scalability of cybersecurity tools, making it a fertile environment for pipeline development and due diligence.
- DSEI (Defence & Security Equipment International)
Location: London, United Kingdom
Date: September 9–12, 2025
Website: https://www.dsei.co.uk
Description: DSEI is one of the world’s largest defense exhibitions, encompassing land, air, sea, space, and cyber domains. Hosted biennially in London, it connects global defense suppliers with buyers, military leaders, and policymakers. Exhibits range from tactical gear and armored vehicles to cutting-edge surveillance systems and AI-enabled defense platforms. For PE firms, DSEI provides a comprehensive view of the global defense supply chain. It's a key venue to evaluate high-growth defense contractors, scout early-stage innovation, and understand international procurement trends that shape long-term investment opportunities.
- DSEI Japan
Location: Chiba, Japan
Date: May 21–23, 2025
Website: https://www.dsei-japan.com
Description: DSEI Japan brings the global defense and security industry to the Indo-Pacific, focusing on Japan’s defense modernization and regional partnerships. It offers insights into maritime security, space defense, cybersecurity, and advanced manufacturing for defense applications. For private equity firms, this show provides access to emerging Japanese and Asia-Pacific defense contractors, many of which are seeking international partnerships or funding. With Japan expanding private sector involvement in defense, DSEI Japan serves as a valuable platform for spotting investment targets aligned with regional strategic priorities and technology exports.
- Intersec
Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Date: January 14–16, 2025
Website: https://www.intersecexpo.com
Description: Intersec is the Middle East’s largest security and safety exhibition, spanning commercial security, homeland protection, fire safety, and cybersecurity. Held annually in Dubai, it brings together global technology providers, integrators, and government buyers. For PE firms, Intersec presents opportunities to assess high-growth security tech startups and regional scale-ups, particularly those tackling infrastructure protection, surveillance, and AI-based emergency systems. It also opens the door to investment in MENA-based integrators with government contracts, offering insight into evolving procurement trends in a fast-growing security-conscious market.
- IDEX (International Defence Exhibition & Conference)
Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Date: February 17–21, 2025
Website: https://www.idexuae.ae
Description: IDEX is the premier defense exhibition in the Middle East, covering land, sea, and air systems. The biennial show features live demonstrations, government-to-government engagements, and hundreds of global exhibitors showcasing cutting-edge military technology. For PE investors, IDEX offers unparalleled access to major procurement officials and emerging defense players in the MENA region. The scale and political backing make it ideal for spotting businesses aligned with regional security priorities—from autonomous systems to advanced C4ISR platforms—offering high visibility and contract growth potential.
- Paris Air Show (Le Bourget)
Location: Le Bourget, France
Date: June 16–22, 2025
Website: https://www.siae.fr
Description: The Paris Air Show is the world’s largest aerospace exhibition, featuring commercial and defense aviation, space tech, and dual-use innovation. Major OEMs and aerospace startups unveil aircraft, satellite systems, propulsion tech, and avionics. For private equity firms, it’s a vital hub for identifying opportunities in aerospace supply chains, space security, and military aviation technologies. The event’s startup zone and large-scale deal announcements provide a window into the next generation of defense aviation ventures and offer a real-time pulse on government investment priorities.
- SOF Week
Location: Tampa, Florida, USA
Date: May 5–8, 2025
Website: https://www.sofweek.org
Description: SOF Week, co-sponsored by USSOCOM, focuses on special operations forces technology and capability development. It features a large expo, live demonstrations, and capability-focused briefings. The event attracts elite global defense firms, startups, and end-users from the special operations community. For PE firms, SOF Week is a unique opportunity to meet smaller, highly innovative vendors solving niche military challenges—often with commercial crossover potential. It’s a high-value event for discovering defense startups serving elite units and understanding trends in tactical systems, ISR, robotics, and cyber defense.
- AUSA Annual Meeting & Expo
Location: Washington, District of Columbia, USA
Date: October 13–15, 2025
Website: https://meetings.ausa.org/annual/2025/index.cfm
Description: Hosted by the Association of the United States Army, this annual meeting is the largest land power expo in North America. It includes keynote addresses from Army leadership, panels on modernization, and a vast expo featuring suppliers of vehicles, weapons, soldier systems, and logistics solutions. For PE investors, AUSA is a must-attend for evaluating U.S. Army-aligned contractors, identifying firms aligned with modernization programs, and understanding capability gaps driving future procurement. It is a prime venue for deal discovery, networking, and benchmarking defense market momentum.
- LAAD Defence & Security
Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Date: April 1–4, 2025
Website: https://www.laadexpo.com.br
Description: LAAD is the most prominent defense and security trade show in Latin America, attracting military, police, and homeland security officials. Exhibitors showcase technologies across air, land, naval, and cyber sectors. For private equity firms, LAAD provides exposure to the defense needs of Latin American governments and introduces local firms primed for investment. With increasing modernization efforts in Brazil and regional demand for surveillance, border protection, and digital security, the show highlights scalable ventures that address both military and civil needs across emerging markets.
- IISS Shangri-La Dialogue
Location: Singapore
Date: May 30 – June 1, 2025
Website: https://www.iiss.org/events/iiss-shangri-la-dialogue/
Description: The Shangri-La Dialogue is Asia’s leading intergovernmental defense summit, drawing ministers and military leaders to discuss regional security and strategy. It covers topics from maritime defense to cyber and emerging technologies. For PE firms, it offers valuable geopolitical insights that can inform long-term investment strategies. Understanding defense priorities across Indo-Pacific nations helps identify growth sectors such as naval systems, cybersecurity, and aerospace, as well as anticipate defense R&D trends driven by great power competition.
- Cybertech Global (Tel Aviv)
Location: Tel Aviv, Israel
Date: March 24–26, 2025
Website: https://www.cybertechisrael.com
Description: Cybertech Global is one of the largest cybersecurity events worldwide, showcasing startups, multinationals, and government-backed innovation. It features keynotes, panels, and an expansive expo of Israeli and international tech. For private equity firms, this event is a direct line to the most innovative cybersecurity companies, many with origins in Israel’s elite cyber units. With a heavy emphasis on scalability and global partnerships, it offers a rich environment to evaluate acquisition targets or early-stage investments in next-gen threat prevention, OT security, and AI-powered platforms.
- Aero India
Location: Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Date: February 10–14, 2025
Website: https://www.aeroindia.gov.in
Description: Aero India is Asia’s largest defense aviation and aerospace exhibition, hosted by the Indian Ministry of Defence. It showcases indigenous fighter jets, drones, helicopters, and surveillance systems, alongside global defense primes. For PE firms, Aero India is a gateway to India’s fast-growing defense industrial base and offers direct insight into the country’s Make in India and defense export priorities. It’s ideal for identifying domestic firms with international aspirations and forging joint ventures in defense manufacturing, avionics, and dual-use aerospace technologies.
- Halifax International Security Forum (Taipei Edition)
Location: Taipei, Taiwan
Date: February 20–21, 2025
Website: https://halifaxtheforum.org
Description: The Halifax International Security Forum is an influential strategic gathering of democratic nations, relocated in 2025 to Taipei in response to regional geopolitical shifts. Topics include Indo-Pacific security, alliance-building, and defense innovation. While not a trade expo, the forum provides vital policy and strategy insights. For private equity firms, this high-level context is essential for anticipating government priorities, understanding regional defense risk environments, and identifying thematic areas—such as cybersecurity and supply chain defense—likely to draw funding and innovation in the near term.
Beneficial Impact of Defense Sector on the Economy
The defense sector plays a pivotal role in the global economy, contributing significantly to technological advancements, job creation, and national security. Private equity investments in defense companies drive innovation and efficiency, leading to the development of cutting-edge technologies that often find applications beyond the military. These innovations can spur growth in related industries, such as aerospace, cybersecurity, and telecommunications, thereby creating a ripple effect that boosts economic activity.
Moreover, defense spending is a substantial component of many national budgets, and private equity firms that invest in this sector help optimize resource allocation and improve operational efficiencies. This, in turn, can lead to more effective defense capabilities and a stronger national security posture. By facilitating the flow of capital into the defense sector, private equity firms contribute to a robust economic ecosystem that supports both national and global stability.
Challenges Faced by the Defense Sector
Despite its significant contributions, the defense sector faces several challenges that can impact private equity investments. One of the primary challenges is the regulatory environment, which can be complex and subject to rapid changes. Navigating export controls, compliance requirements, and geopolitical considerations requires expertise and agility. Private equity firms must stay informed about these regulations to mitigate risks and ensure successful investments.
Another challenge is the increasing competition in the defense industry. As more firms recognize the potential for lucrative returns, the market becomes more crowded, driving up valuations and making it harder to identify attractive investment opportunities. Additionally, technological advancements necessitate continuous innovation, requiring firms to invest in research and development to maintain a competitive edge.
Finally, geopolitical tensions and shifting defense priorities can create uncertainty in the market. Private equity firms must be adept at anticipating and responding to these changes to protect their investments and capitalize on emerging opportunities.
Conclusion
As we approach 2025, the defense sector remains a dynamic and essential component of the global economy. For private equity firms, attending top defense conferences is a strategic move to enhance their dealmaking capabilities and stay abreast of industry developments. While the sector offers significant opportunities for growth and innovation, it also presents challenges that require careful navigation. By understanding the economic impact and challenges of the defense sector, private equity firms can make informed investment decisions that drive success and contribute to a more secure and prosperous future.
