DSA-NATSEC Asia 2026 Opens With Record Participation At MITEC

KUALA LUMPUR, April 20 (Bernama) -- The Defence Services Asia (DSA) and National Security Exhibition (NATSEC) Asia 2026 opened today under the theme “Empowering the Capability and Resilience of Technology Miners”.

Now in its 19th edition, the exhibition is being held at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) until Thursday and is scheduled to be officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today.

The event will also feature a keynote address by the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah, at the Putrajaya Forum on Tuesday, themed “ASEAN Security in the Age of Emerging Technologies”.

This year’s edition recorded a significant increase in participation, with 1,456 exhibiting companies from 63 countries, up from 1,324 companies from 60 countries in 2024.

Notably, it marks the debut participation of defence and security firms from Croatia, Finland, Hungary, Japan and Russia.

Yesterday, Defence Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin said 368 Malaysian companies are featured under a new segment, the Malaysian Defence Industry Alliance pavilion, showcasing local capabilities and products.

He added that the Defence Ministry has also presented Industry Collaboration Programme (ICP) documents worth an estimated RM1.4 billion to selected companies, aimed at facilitating technology transfer and expertise development.

DSA and NATSEC Asia 2026 brings together conventional defence systems, electronic warfare technologies and internal security solutions, while serving as a platform to strengthen international cooperation through meetings, forums and strategic dialogue sessions.

Among the major defence companies participating are DEFTECH, ASELSAN, Turkish Aerospace Industries, MILKOR, FNSS Savunma Sistemleri, Team Defence Australia, Airbus Group, BrahMos, Beretta Defense Technologies (BDT), Weststar Defence Industries and Matra BAE Dynamics Alenia (MBDA).

Also participating are Mindmatics, Hyundai WIA Corp, Kongsberg, ATLA Japan MOD, LIG ​​Nex1, Glenair Inc, Fincantieri, Nurol Makina, HAVELSAN, CANiK Arms, FN Herstal and Naval Group.

The exhibition is open exclusively to government officials in defence and security, industry professionals and executives, military personnel, police and guests.

-- BERNAMA