TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Military weapons were removed from showcases, unmanned aircraft flew over vendor booths, and massive monitors displayed continuous video of rocket strikes throughout the exhibition halls at Tel Aviv’s convention center during the Defense Tech Expo Israel 2026.
The conference united Israeli military contractors, international representatives, and financial backers to showcase innovations spanning personal weapons and automated systems to aerial and rocket defense platforms plus cybersecurity solutions.
Exhibition spaces featured large-scale models of defense missiles and pilotless vehicles, with company representatives explaining combat features to prospective purchasers. Corporate negotiations took place next to monitors displaying war zone simulations and marketing videos.
The current year’s conference demonstrated increased global attention toward Israel’s military industry, with companies marketing products developed through recent military engagements.
Beyond the conference center, a small collection of demonstrators opposed the military and weapons business. Several protesters connected the trade show to the Gaza conflict, carrying placards that called the region a “testing lab” for armaments.
Combined, these events illustrate the conflict between the business presentation of warfare technology and the civic discussion about how it gets used.
This represents a photo collection assembled by AP photography staff.
