SA Defence Firms Return from IDEF 2025 with Major Global Trade Leads

South African defence and security companies that showcased their capabilities at the International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF) 2025 in Türkiye are returning home buoyed by new trade leads, export opportunities, and potential global partnerships. The high-profile event, held from 22 to 27 July, provided a significant platform for local manufacturers to connect with buyers, collaborators, and governments from across the globe.

The South African National Pavilion, coordinated by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), served as the country’s unified front at the prestigious fair. Backed by the Aerospace, Maritime and Defence Industries Association of South Africa (AMD Export Council), the Pavilion featured some of South Africa’s most innovative and export-ready defence companies, offering cutting-edge technologies in protection, surveillance, command systems, and body armour.

A Platform for Growth and Global Integration

According to officials from the dtic, participation in IDEF is part of the government’s broader strategy to internationalise South Africa’s defence sector, especially empowering Black-owned and women-led enterprises, while unlocking foreign markets for locally produced defence and protective technologies.

The show, held in Istanbul, is regarded as one of the largest and most influential defence industry expos globally, drawing defence procurement authorities, military experts, and private sector firms from across Eurasia, the Middle East, North Africa, and Europe.

Voices from the Frontline: South African Exhibitors Reflect

FimmTech Engineering

Kevin Mhlanga, Technical Manager at FimmTech, hailed the fair as an excellent platform for both technical discussions and strategic engagement.

“We interacted with counterparts from Türkiye, Canada, China, and the UAE, sharing insights on C4ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) systems. We aim to deepen these engagements through collaboration and joint innovation,” he said.

Kimona Holdings

A 100% Black-owned company led by Kim Bubu, Kimona Holdings specializes in industrial protective wear and corporate uniforms.

“IDEF 2025 gave us our first opportunity to showcase internationally. We've now attracted interest from potential clients in Lebanon, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Mozambique, and distributors across the Middle East. Over 20 Turkish defence firms want to collaborate with us,” said Bubu. She praised the dtic and AMD for supporting women entrepreneurs in accessing global markets.

Unipro Protective Wear

Managing Director Zama Ledidi described her experience as “momentous,” highlighting the significance of technology exchange and capacity building.

“We’ve signed an MoU with a Turkish body armour manufacturer with strong African market reach. This will help us protect jobs and scale operations in South Africa,” she added.

Zebra Protection

International Sales Manager Ana Warburg noted that IDEF provided exposure to the latest trends in ballistic protection.

“We showcased our ballistic helmets, body armour, demining gear, and met several prospective clients. The fair offered critical insights that will inform our product development roadmap,” Warburg stated.

Strategic Collaborations and Institutional Presence

In addition to individual companies, the South African delegation included major institutions such as:

• Armscor (Armaments Corporation of South Africa SOC Limited)

• Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)

• AMD Export Council

These entities played a key role in government-to-government (G2G) engagements, defence diplomacy, and promoting South Africa’s R&D-driven defence capabilities.

Other participating firms included:

• Imperial Armour

• QP Dronetech

• SVI Engineering

• Swatek Defence and Aerospace

• Bullet Proofing Technology

• Redeployable Camp Systems SA

These companies showcased next-generation drones, mobile field infrastructure, tactical vehicles, advanced body armour, and protective textiles—demonstrating the diversity and innovation within South Africa’s defence industrial base.

IDEF 2025: A Launchpad into Emerging Markets

IDEF 2025 attracted global defence leaders and procurement officials seeking innovative and cost-effective solutions, making it a critical market access platform for South African firms. Türkiye's own rapid industrialisation and growing defence footprint made it a natural partner for South African collaboration.

The fair also allowed South Africa to forge links with buyers in high-growth markets such as MENA (Middle East and North Africa), Eastern Europe, and Sub-Saharan Africa—regions where defence modernisation and counterterrorism capabilities are in high demand.

Looking Ahead: Building on IDEF Momentum

The dtic and AMD have pledged to continue supporting local defence exporters in attending global exhibitions, building on the momentum from IDEF. Focus will be placed on:

• Fast-tracking trade leads into signed deals

• Enhancing supply chain collaboration with global OEMs

• Promoting joint manufacturing and tech transfer agreements

• Creating opportunities for SMMEs and Black industrialists

“This is more than just exhibition participation; it’s about economic diplomacy, industrial growth, and job creation through strategic trade expansion,” said a dtic spokesperson.