Overview
- The ILA airshow ran at Berlin Brandenburg Airport from 10 to 14 June and attracted about 110,000 visitors and 765 exhibitors from 37 countries.
- Organisers and BDLI chief Marie‑Christine von Hahn said defence played a larger role this year and called aerospace a strategic industry and infrastructure.
- Eight defence firms present at the fair — Airbus, MTU, Hensoldt, MBDA, Autoflug, Diehl Defence, Liebherr and Rohde & Schwarz — publicly declared they were ready to develop a new fighter after FCAS ended.
- The event drew high-level political attention with Chancellor Friedrich Merz attending the opening and triggered protests when pro‑Palestine activists blocked access on 10 June and were removed by police.
- Coverage split on the show’s tone with some outlets highlighting family attendance and innovation while others criticised the public display of weapons used in overseas conflicts and warned the fair deepens debate over Europe’s arms procurement and public normalisation of military tech.