A Huge New Arms Show Will Take Place In Madrid

Via Wikimedia Commons.

A new franchise for a biennial arms show is launching in Spain’s capital this year. FEINDEF 2019, also known as Feria Internacional de la Defensa, is taking place from May 29 until 31 in Pavilion 8 at Madrid’s IFEMA, which is the city’s leading trade show venue. FEINDEF 2019 aims to serve as an occasion for promoting the country’s military-industrial sector and discussing ideas that will enhance the armed forces’ capabilities.

Dozens of Spanish companies are scheduled to participate and the organizers are still welcoming foreign exhibitors who are eager for business opportunities with a major NATO ally and regional power. 21st Century Asian Arms Race (21AAR) is a media partner entrusted with helping promote FEINDEF 2019.

In a press release shared by the organizer, a series of conferences will be held during FEINDEF 2019. To mark 30 years since women were allowed in Spain’s armed forces, the first day of FEINDEF 2019 has a forum devoted to women’s participation in the military. Another conference, scheduled on the second day of FEINDEF 2019, covers innovation and dual-use technology. On the last day of FEINDEF 2019 a closing forum is about employment opportunities for ex-soldiers and veterans when they transition back to civilian life.

As an arms show jointly organized by trade bodies and the defense ministry, additional “roundtable” talks are set to take place for the duration of FEINDEF 2019. Their purpose is discussing recent trends that will shape the country’s armed forces in the decade to come. Foreign delegations are expected to visit the show, with defense ministry and law enforcement officials from Africa, the Americas, the EU, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia confirmed to attend.

Companies that want to take part in FEINDEF 2019 can download a registration form here.

FEINDEF 2019 was planned and then announced last year as an effort to establish an internationally recognized arms show or defense exhibition for Spain, whose military-industrial sector has long been overshadowed by its high profile counterparts in France and Germany. In an early press release from the organizers published on November 27, 2018, the upcoming event was hailed as a breakthrough for having 78% of its available exhibition space reserved:

In less than ten days after its official presentation, national and international companies have reserved 78% of the Exhibition Area. Most of the companies that have requested a space in FEINDEF are national ones, which shows the great reception of this event within the Spanish defense industry. The large tractor companies and the small and medium sized ones, which play a decisive role in this industry, will be present in the fair.

The Spanish business associations of the sector, TEDAE and AESMIDE, and the Ministry of Defense are doing a great international job to promote the presence of foreign companies, so a significant number of these businesses are also requesting information and deciding the location within the Exhibition.

In this sense, the FEINDEF organizers are managing the creation of national pavilions of the countries of great importance in the international defense scene and they are also working to ensure the visit of delegations of countries with commercial interests in our industry.