SEOUL, Republic of Korea — October 2026 — Autonomous systems, intelligent command and control, precision strike and counter-drone technologies will be among the major areas in focus when K-DEX 2026 opens this December, as the exhibition prepares to bring conventional ground-force capabilities and emerging battlefield technologies together across four halls at KINTEX.
The Korea International Army Defense Exhibition will take place from December 8 to 11, 2026, at KINTEX Exhibition Center 2 in Goyang, Republic of Korea, using Halls 6, 7, 8 and 9B.
The event will mark the first K-DEX held following the integration of KADEX and DX KOREA.
At the center of the 2026 exhibition will be a battlefield-oriented structure designed to show how weapons, platforms, sensors, networks and supporting systems contribute to wider military operations.
K-DEX will organize the exhibition across eight principal areas: Intelligence & Command, Mobility, Firepower, Protection, Support, Aerospace, Future Technologies and the Defense Startup Lab.
The approach places traditional ground-force systems alongside technologies associated with the changing character of military operations.
In the Intelligence & Command sector, visitors will be able to examine technologies including surveillance radar, electro-optical systems, command-and-control solutions and tactical communications equipment.
The Mobility sector will feature main battle tanks, armored vehicles, combat-support vehicles and engineering equipment, while Firepower will include artillery systems, guided weapons, multiple-launch rocket systems, fire-control equipment and ammunition.
Technologies supporting survivability and responses to emerging threats will be presented in the Protection area, while Support will focus on equipment and systems required to sustain military operations.
The exhibition will also include dedicated areas for Aerospace and Future Technologies, along with a Defense Startup Lab designed to provide visibility for companies developing new defense technologies and solutions.
Across those exhibition sectors, K-DEX 2026 will highlight five technology themes linked to future battlefield requirements.
One of the principal themes is Physical AI-Based Autonomous & Manned-Unmanned Teaming Systems.
As militaries seek to expand the operational use of autonomous platforms, future systems will increasingly require soldiers, crewed platforms and unmanned assets to operate within the same mission environment.
The technologies involved extend beyond individual unmanned vehicles and include sensors, artificial intelligence, communications and mission-management systems capable of supporting coordinated operations.
A second theme, Hyper-Connected Networks & Intelligent Command and Control, addresses the growing requirement to connect battlefield sensors, platforms and commanders.
As armed forces generate larger volumes of operational data, the ability to collect, transmit, analyze and distribute information is becoming a central element of military decision-making.
K-DEX will also highlight Long-Range Precision Strike & Sustained Operations.
The theme covers precision-strike capabilities enabled by advanced guidance and navigation technologies, together with ammunition management, logistics and other systems needed to maintain those capabilities during extended operations.
Another major area will be Drone & Counter-Drone Systems.
The expanding operational use of unmanned aerial systems has created corresponding demand for technologies capable of detecting, identifying, tracking and responding to drone threats.
The fifth theme, Smart Barracks & Spatial Innovation, looks beyond front-line combat systems to the infrastructure, facilities and operating environments that support military personnel.
Together, the five themes are intended to connect technologies displayed across the exhibition with broader operational requirements rather than treating individual systems in isolation.
K-DEX 2026 will complement the exhibition floor with international conference and business programs.
The National Defense Briefing will allow participating countries to present their national defense environments, modernization priorities, weapons requirements and industrial capabilities.
The current program includes 12 countries: the United States, Saudi Arabia, India, Norway, Finland, the Netherlands, Sweden, Canada, Latvia, Indonesia, Australia and Portugal.
The briefings are intended to give companies greater visibility into individual defense markets and potential areas for procurement, industrial and export cooperation.
K-DEX will also host the Global Summit, including the GLOBSEC Korea Dialogue: The Next Alliance.
Sessions scheduled for December 8 and 9 will examine cooperation between European and Asian security partners and explore how defense relationships can develop from individual procurement programs toward broader industrial partnerships.
The Defense Innovation Forum, scheduled for December 9 to 11, will focus on future-force requirements and defense technologies in the era of Physical AI.
K-DEX will also host New Technology Presentations, providing companies with an additional platform to introduce newly developed defense technologies and solutions.
For exhibitors and professional visitors, these programs create several different levels of engagement.
Participants can examine systems on the exhibition floor, gain country-specific information through the National Defense Briefing, follow policy and technology discussions through the conference program and pursue direct business opportunities through B2B and G2B meetings.
The event will also include exhibitor technical presentations, seminars and networking activities.
This structure reflects the increasingly interconnected nature of modern ground warfare.
Autonomous platforms require sensors, networks and command systems. Precision-strike capabilities depend on targeting information, guidance and logistics. The growing use of drones is driving demand for corresponding detection and counter-drone technologies.
By presenting these capabilities within the same exhibition environment, K-DEX 2026 will provide visitors with a broader view of how individual technologies combine to support future battlefield operations.
For international companies, the event will offer opportunities to assess South Korea’s defense market across complete platforms, subsystems, components, software and enabling technologies.
For Korean companies, the participation of overseas defense representatives, national pavilions and international industry participants will provide additional opportunities to introduce technologies to potential customers and partners from overseas markets.
With its first integrated edition approaching, K-DEX 2026 is preparing to bring traditional ground-force capabilities and next-generation technologies together within a single exhibition and conference platform.
Visitor pre-registration for K-DEX 2026 is currently open.
Defense-industry professionals, buyers, military personnel and other prospective visitors can register in advance through the official K-DEX website. Pre-registration is available through December 7, with admission conditions varying according to visitor eligibility.
K-DEX 2026 will take place from December 8 to 11, 2026, at KINTEX Exhibition Center 2 in Goyang, Republic of Korea.
