Overview

• The four-day fair expects 60,000–70,000 visitors and about 1,800 exhibitors from at least 37 nations.
• Police managed large demonstrations outside ExCeL, with entrances blocked, scuffles reported and several arrests.
• The UK unveiled a Defence Industrial Strategy, launching a £250m Defence Growth Deals fund and targeting defence spending of 2.6% of GDP by 2027 with an ambition for 3%.
• Israeli state-owned Rafael and Israel Aerospace Industries and Elbit subsidiaries are exhibiting despite the absence of an official delegation.
• Britain has suspended most arms exports to Israel on humanitarian grounds but continues to permit UK-made components for F‑35 jets as part of the global programme.