Israeli Defense Firms Plan Major Showcase at Farnborough 2026 After Paris Ban

Following a controversial ban on Israeli companies at the Paris Air Show, Israel's defense industry is preparing a significant presence at the Farnborough International Airshow 2026 in the UK. Unlike the Paris event, where Israeli firms were restricted to exhibiting only defensive systems and faced booth blockades ordered by top officials, Farnborough will allow full displays, including offensive weaponry proven in recent conflicts.

The Farnborough show, starting Monday and lasting five days, is one of the world's premier aerospace, space, and defense exhibitions. This year, it expects a record participation of about 1,600 exhibitors, with defense systems comprising nearly 50% of the display amid rising global tensions. The Israeli delegation arrives amid a record year for Israeli defense exports, which surpassed $19 billion in 2025 according to the Ministry of Defense.

Leading Israeli companies such as Rafael, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Elbit Systems, and smaller firms like IAI's Euromos and Uvision will present hundreds of systems. Unlike Paris, Israeli firms will showcase offensive weapons including combat-proven systems from the "Sword of Iron" war. Rafael will unveil multiple combat systems, including the Space bombs, the fifth-generation Ice Breaker cruise missile with a 300 km range capable of penetrating defended environments and GPS jamming, the AI-enabled long-range air-to-ground ROCKS missile, and the new L-SPIKE 4X loitering missile with a 25-minute flight time and 40 km strike range.

IAI will display the Arrow 3 missile alongside the LORA long-range ground-to-ground missile known for surgical precision and destructive power, as well as the HARPY and HAROP loitering munitions designed for autonomous target detection and destruction deep in enemy territory. Elbit Systems will introduce the advanced X-Sight helmet that provides helicopter pilots with real-time tactical situational awareness. Euromos will showcase hardened human-machine interface solutions, including AI-based smart cockpits designed to enhance operator performance under stress.

This robust Israeli presence at Farnborough highlights the strategic and economic importance of Israel's defense industry as a global innovation and security leader, and reflects its growing international standing despite previous exhibition restrictions.