AAD 2026 Opens in South Africa: 33 Countries, 287 Companies and an Unmanned-Systems Focus

Africa’s largest aerospace and defence exhibition, Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) 2026, opened on September 16 at Waterkloof Air Force Base near Pretoria, South Africa, and runs through September 20. The 13th edition draws 287 companies from 33 countries, with this year’s agenda centred on unmanned systems, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence.

At a Glance

AAD 2026 runs September 16-20, 2026, at Waterkloof Air Force Base in Centurion, near Pretoria.
287 companies from 33 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, and North and South America are taking part.
South African Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Angelina Motshekga framed the event under the motto “Africa’s Gateway to Defense and Aerospace Collaboration.”
This year’s priority themes are unmanned systems, cybersecurity and AI applications in defence.
The exhibition also hosts closed-door bilateral military talks, procurement negotiations and tactical system demonstrations.
AAD is held biennially, jointly organized by South Africa’s Department of Defence, Armscor, the Commercial Aviation Association and the Aerospace, Maritime and Defence Industries Association.

Background

Combining a trade exhibition with an airshow, AAD is the continent’s only event of its kind and a meaningful contributor to South Africa’s economy in the years it is held. The headline theme of this 13th edition is the rise of unmanned aerial and ground systems as, in Motshekga’s words, “a key element of modern military aviation.” International participants include Russia, which brought roughly 500 pieces of equipment through exhibitors such as Rosoboronexport, Bazalt and Kalashnikov Group.

Another notable dimension of the show is the diversification of African procurement patterns. Across the continent, countries are increasingly looking beyond traditional suppliers for new partnerships, turning AAD into more than a display floor — it has become a stage for substantial closed-door procurement negotiations.

Regional Impact

Turkish defense companies have become regular fixtures at Africa-focused shows like AAD in recent years, steadily expanding their footprint on the continent. Baykar’s unmanned aerial systems, Turkish Aerospace’s light attack and trainer aircraft, ASELSAN’s electronic warfare and radar systems, and land platforms from Otokar and FNSS have all featured in a growing string of cooperation and procurement agreements with African states. AAD 2026’s focus on unmanned systems and AI aligns closely with areas where Turkish industry has built strong export credentials, suggesting the show offers fresh networking and partnership opportunities for Turkish firms.