More than 60 defence firms showcase export-ready capabilities at MOD-backed event

More than 60 British defence firms have showcased their military engineering capabilities to international delegations from over 20 different countries as the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) seeks to strengthen export opportunities and support growth across the UK defence industry.

Hosted by National Armaments International from 5-6 October, the Military Engineering Showcase 2026 (MES 26) brought together 66 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), key defence primes, overseas partners and UK defence stakeholders to demonstrate capabilities and explore opportunities for collaboration on technologies that address shared military challenges.

The event highlighted the breadth of British defence expertise across combat engineering, mine clearance, force protection, counter-explosive ordnance, survivability and deployable infrastructure.

It also provided opportunities for participating firms to engage directly with prospective international customers, exchange technical knowledge and explore partnerships that could help bring UK-developed defence capabilities to overseas markets.

British engineering solutions for the battlefield and beyond

The showcase covered technologies supporting military mobility, operational protection and the ability to establish and sustain forces in challenging environments.

Mine clearance and demining capabilities are critical to enabling troops to move safely through contaminated terrain, while counter-explosive ordnance solutions help military personnel identify and address explosive threats. These capabilities can also support both humanitarian demining and post-conflict recovery tasks, where unexploded ordnance continues to endanger civilian populations.

Force protection and survivability formed another key area of focus, encompassing capabilities intended to reduce risks to personnel and equipment during operations. Meanwhile, deployable infrastructure supports the establishment of temporary operational facilities and essential services where permanent infrastructure is unavailable or damaged.

Combat engineering brings these requirements together, enabling armed forces to overcome obstacles, retain freedom of movement and operate effectively in complex combat environments.

While the MOD’s announcement did not identify individual products or suppliers, the range of capabilities demonstrated reflects the specialist expertise available across the UK defence supply chain. The participation of both SMEs and larger contractors underlined the importance of a diverse industrial base in developing and delivering military engineering solutions to global markets.

In addition, presentations from military engineering specialists, capability demonstrations, industry briefings and networking sessions enabled visiting delegates to discuss operational requirements and consider opportunities for closer cooperation.

Building international partnerships to drive UK defence exports

Lt Col Andrew Teeton MBE RE, Military Advisor for Counter-Explosive Ordnance and Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) at National Armaments International (NA-Int), highlighted the contribution of British businesses to the sector and the importance of international engagement.

“The UK military engineering sector is home to world-leading companies, many of them SMEs, that are passionate about supporting defence,” he said. “Through collaboration and export opportunities, we can help sustain the skills, expertise, and innovation needed to meet current and future military engineering requirements.”

For UK companies, international exports can open additional routes to market, expand their customer base and help sustain specialist manufacturing skills and technical expertise. Foreign partnerships can also provide opportunities to understand emerging operational needs and develop solutions alongside prospective customers.

“Events like [MES 26] help us enhance capability, improve interoperability and support a resilient UK industrial base by strengthening partnerships and sharing approaches to common challenges,” Teeton added.

Connecting British defence SMEs with potential overseas customers

The UK MOD’s Export Support Team (EST), a part of NA-Int, played a role in connecting British defence firms with international partners during MES 26.

Made up of serving British Army personnel, the EST provides specialist military advice to UK defence and security firms, drawing on operational experience to explain current and emerging military engineering requirements. Its engagement helps firms communicate the practical value of their technologies to potential overseas customers and better understand how their solutions may meet military requirements.

More broadly, the MOD’s defence export support includes specialist advice, assistance at domestic and international exhibitions, the coordination of UK government support for export opportunities, and the development of relationships with foreign governments and other stakeholders.

For SMEs seeking to establish themselves in international markets, this support can help bridge the gap between technical innovation and commercial opportunity, particularly when navigating unfamiliar defence requirements and building relationships with overseas customers.

The MES exhibition reinforces the MOD’s wider approach to promoting British defence capabilities through collaboration and exports. By bringing companies together with military experts and international delegations, the event aims to strengthen partnerships, support industrial resilience and help UK firms compete for greater opportunities in global defence markets.