Supply, Security & Defence Expo 2026 Breaks All Records
Supply, Security & Defence Expo 2026, held on 10–11 June at the Estonian Fair Centre in Tallinn, broke all records in its second edition. The event attracted over 2,600 professionals and approximately 200 exhibitors from Estonia and abroad showcasing dual-use and defence innovations. SSD 2027 has been announced for 16–17 June 2027 at Kipsala International Exhibition Centre in Riga, Latvia, with 25% of exhibitor spaces already booked.
Key Highlights from SSD 2026
- SSD 2027 announced: SSD moves to Riga’s Kipsala International Exhibition Centre — the largest specialised exhibition complex in the Baltic countries with nearly 15,000 m² across two pavilions. Organiser Mall Kikas says the event plans to double again
- NORDSEC cluster: Nordic Defence and Security Cluster, with 140+ member companies, confirms SSD as a key meeting place for Nordic-Baltic defence cooperation and announces return for SSD 2027 in Riga. Calls for breaking down national protection walls and building cross-border industrial consortia
- Finnish Operations Center: FOC brought a Team Finland delegation to SSD 2026 and hosted Arctic Shield — Resilience 360 side event covering supply security, logistics resilience, satellite communications, drone ecosystems, and dual-use technologies
- Gravity Industries first Baltic demo: Gravity Industries performed live Jet Suit demonstrations over Tallinn Bay on both days of the event — operators went from static to airborne in seconds, landed on vessels, and transitioned to task-ready within three seconds of touchdown
- Rantelon commits to SSD 2027: Estonian counter-drone company Rantelon booked one of the largest stands for SSD 2027, donating funds to procure 50 ballistic plates for Azov International Battalion fighters in Ukraine
- ICEYE valuation: ICEYE, the world leader in sovereign intelligence from space, raised €450m at a valuation exceeding €10 billion. Seven governments across Europe have procured sovereign satellite systems from ICEYE, with production doubling to 100 satellites annually by 2028
- BAE Systems Bofors: Swedish arms manufacturer showcased naval gun systems, the 155mm Wheeled Howitzer Archer, and the Bofors 40mm TRIDON Mk2 VSHORAD system at SSD 2026
- Unmanned Defense Systems: Presented complete Detect–Engage–Command ecosystem including FORECASTER ISTAR platform, AVENGER 5 loitering munition, and SwarmC2 autonomous swarm command-and-control software
- Signal and electromagnetic security: Signal Block and Hammerglass Finland reported growing awareness of signal-related risks, with Faraday tent solutions for mobile command posts and tactical vehicles drawing particular interest
- RODL Nordic-Baltic: Law firm RODL brought colleagues from six Nordic-Baltic offices and delivered keynote on public-private cooperation, hosting a side event with around 150 participants focused on regulatory frameworks for defence sector growth
Defence Industry Dimension
SSD 2026’s growth from 88 exhibitors and 1,600 visitors in 2025 to 200 exhibitors and 2,600+ visitors in 2026 confirms the expo’s emergence as the Baltic region’s premier defence industry event. The recurring message across exhibitors and panels was clear: Nordic-Baltic security requires operating as a single, integrated ecosystem — connecting industry, governments, and allied nations through shared supply chains, sovereign production capabilities, and rapid innovation cycles. With SSD 2027 moving to Riga and a quarter of spaces already booked, the momentum shows no signs of slowing.