AEDEX + AIRPORT Expo 2026 opens in New Delhi, highlighting India’s aviation ambitions
New Delhi, Sep 10. India’s growing aerospace, defence and civil aviation capabilities came into focus as the three-day AEDEX + AIRPORT Expo 2026 opened in New Delhi on September 10, bringing together defence manufacturers, aerospace companies, airport infrastructure firms, technology providers, investors and government agencies.
The inaugural international conference and exhibition is positioned as a business and technology platform aimed at promoting collaboration across the aviation, airport infrastructure, aerospace and defence sectors. It provides an opportunity for domestic and global companies to showcase advanced technologies and explore partnerships and investment opportunities in India.
The event comes as the government seeks to strengthen India’s position as a global aerospace and defence manufacturing hub through initiatives such as ‘Make in India’ and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ (Self-reliant India). The sector has witnessed significant expansion in recent years, with greater emphasis on indigenous design, research, advanced manufacturing and public-private partnerships.
More than 670 startups, MSMEs and individual innovators have participated in defence challenge programmes or entered into contracts to develop operational prototypes for the Indian armed forces. Several deep-tech companies, including ideaForge, NewSpace Research and Technologies and Raphe mPhibr, have emerged as prominent players in the ecosystem and have collectively attracted more than $700 million in venture funding, according to the organisers.
The Indian aerospace and defence market is projected to reach $70 billion by 2030, potentially creating substantial opportunities for both domestic and international companies.
Defence-civil aviation convergence
A key theme of the expo is the growing convergence between defence technologies and civil aviation through the development of dual-use technologies.
Technologies such as autonomous navigation, advanced perception and sensing systems and unmanned platforms, initially developed for military applications, are increasingly finding potential uses in civilian aviation and airport operations. Deep-tech startups are consequently developing technology platforms that can cater to both defence and commercial requirements.
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has emerged as an important player in this evolving ecosystem, particularly through its engagement with aerospace and defence startups under the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) framework.
HAL recently signed a final agreement with Safran Helicopter Engines to jointly develop and manufacture a new-generation helicopter engine. The partnership is being viewed as an important step towards strengthening India’s indigenous aerospace propulsion capabilities.
HAL is also a co-founder of the Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO), which oversees the iDEX initiative aimed at promoting innovation and entrepreneurship in the aerospace and defence sectors.
The public-sector aerospace major has also expanded its partnerships with private industry and public-sector enterprises for the production of major structural components for the indigenous Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) Prachand. Its partners include Adani Defence Systems and BEML.
In another area, HAL has secured the transfer of design and manufacturing rights for LiDAR-based Obstacle Avoidance Systems (OAS) from global technology partners, including Hensoldt Sensors. The move is expected to help establish domestic integration and manufacturing capabilities involving Indian tier-1 suppliers and startups.
Startup-focused defence challenges at the expo and within the wider ecosystem are concentrating on areas such as autonomous systems, predictive algorithms, intelligent machines, advanced aviation composites and specialised rocket and jet-engine components.
AMCA adds momentum to indigenous aerospace push
The government’s recent approval of the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme has further strengthened India’s push towards self-reliance in advanced military aviation.
The fifth-generation fighter aircraft programme is expected to provide a major platform for collaboration between public-sector organisations, private companies, startups and research institutions. It is also likely to accelerate indigenous capabilities in advanced design, manufacturing, materials and aerospace technologies.
Meanwhile, the civil aviation and airport infrastructure sectors are undergoing rapid expansion. India has established itself as the world’s third-largest domestic aviation market, while the number of operational airports has more than doubled since 2014.
The expansion, supported by substantial government spending as well as private-sector investment, has created a growing ecosystem spanning airport development, aviation technology, passenger infrastructure, air-traffic systems and associated services.
Against this backdrop, AEDEX + AIRPORT Expo 2026 seeks to bring the defence and civil aviation ecosystems closer together, providing a common platform for technology companies, manufacturers, investors and policymakers to identify new areas of cooperation and business.
