LAGOS, NIGERIA – AFRIDEX, the Africa International Defence Exhibition, has announced the launch of dedicated Outdoor Static Display and Live Demonstration Areas as part of its inaugural event, creating a platform for defence and security organisations to showcase operational capabilities to military leaders, procurement officials, industry stakeholders and international delegations.

Operational focus at the centre of the exhibition

Scheduled to take place from 26 to 29 October 2026 at Eko Atlantic in Lagos, Nigeria, AFRIDEX is positioning itself as a defence and security exhibition centred on operational capability demonstrations and industry engagement across multiple domains.

The event will bring together government representatives, armed forces, prime contractors and technology providers from across the global defence and security sector. According to organisers, the exhibition has been designed to support capability development, interoperability and resilience across Land, Maritime, Air, Space and Cyber environments.

Static display area to showcase major defence assets

Located adjacent to the main exhibition halls, the Outdoor Static Display area will provide exhibitors with space to present larger platforms and systems beyond the traditional exhibition stand format. Organisers expect the area to feature a range of land, air and maritime assets, including armoured vehicles, unmanned aerial vehicles, aircraft, maritime platforms, mobile command units, communications systems, robotics and advanced sensor technologies.

The exhibition aims to provide visitors with a closer view of operational equipment and technologies currently supporting defence and security missions.

Live demonstrations across multiple domains

Complementing the static displays, AFRIDEX will host a dedicated Live Demonstration Area where exhibitors will be able to conduct approved demonstrations of systems and technologies in operational scenarios. Planned demonstrations include vehicle mobility trials, VTOL drone systems, robotics, counter-UAS simulations, communications technologies, surveillance systems, maritime security solutions and emergency response capabilities.

The maritime demonstration programme will make use of the venue’s riverfront location to showcase maritime surveillance technologies, unmanned surface vessels, coastal security systems and small craft operations in a live environment.

Drone demonstrations will be limited to approved VTOL platforms and will be subject to regulatory approval, technical review and operational clearance. Organisers have confirmed that no live weapons or live ammunition will be permitted during the event.

Supporting defence collaboration across Africa

AFRIDEX organisers say the exhibition is intended to facilitate collaboration between governments, armed forces and industry partners while supporting procurement pathways, technology partnerships and long-term security objectives across the continent.

Odiri Umusu, Portfolio Director for AFRIDEX at dmg events, said the integration of live demonstrations and large-scale capability displays is designed to provide participants with a more immersive understanding of defence technologies and operational performance.

Hosted in Nigeria, AFRIDEX reflects growing investment in defence capability development, industrial participation and regional security cooperation across Africa.