DEFEA 2025 was larger in terms of participation and content compared to previous events.
According to market participants, Greek companies had the opportunity to present through their products their operational readiness for the crucial Defense sector for Greece, Europe and the rest of the world, against the backdrop of ReArm Europe and the Greek armaments program for the next 12 years, amounting to 28 billion euros, which are all under planning.
At the same time, they had the opportunity to highlight the need for an institutional authority for the proper management of the enormous opportunity and responsibility that arises for the defense sector. It is estimated that at the national level, 203 Greek companies participated in DEFEA 2025 compared to 140 Greek presences in 2023.
As company representatives emphasized to “N”, the exhibition hosted numerous business meetings of high-ranking executives of companies, multinational giants and military delegations from Western and Middle Eastern countries. From the Greek side, companies that have participated in armament programs of other NATO member countries and not in Greece were present at this year’s DEFEA. At the same time, Greek companies that had previously abstained from DEFEA made their debut at the exhibition, although they have, among other things, many years of activity in the defense sector.
The participation of start-ups as well as spin-offs of innovation from the academic community with an emphasis on dual-use technologies was also noteworthy. From the perspective of the Ministry of National Defense, it is particularly important to note that “the announcement of 25% participation of the Greek defense industry in the Greek armament program has already activated the interest of international players in the sector, who now see Greek companies as partners for strategic collaborations. This momentum is taking shape at a time when the European debate on the need to strengthen domestic defense production is intensifying, positively affecting the Greek ecosystem – both in terms of quality and number of companies involved.”
