Previewing IDEX 2023 [Video]

IDEX 2023 — The international defense trade show calendar kicks off in a big way this week, with the International Defense Exhibition (IDEX) and its naval version NAVDEX both opening up in the UAE.

Expected to be the biggest ever in terms of attendance, IDEX will witness the participation of eight new nations — Uzbekistan, Ireland, Nigeria, Montenegro, Kuwait, Lithuania, Bangladesh and Monaco — bringing the total of represented countries to 65. Some 1,350 companies will exhibit their wares, a 50 percent rise from the last IDEX in 2021, organizers said.

In this video, Breaking Defense’s managing editor Lee Ferran and senior reporter Ashley Roque break down what to keep an eye on as the show gets underway.

PHOTOS: IDEX 2023

PHOTOS: IDEX 2023

Armaments are on display at the Chine Defence booth at NAVDEX 2023, IDEX's sister show. (Lee Ferran / Breaking Defense)

Just yards from the Rusian pavilion, an American soldier shows a spectator how to aim a Javelin at IDEX 2023. (Ashley Roque / Breaking Defense)

The UAE firm Milanion makes this small, eight-wheeled mobile launcher, on display at IDEX 2023. (Lee Ferran / Breaking Defense)

A model of a mobile missile launcher is on display at China's Norinco booth at IDEX 2023.

Protective gear, seen here by UAE firm Ajwa, is also a popular item for some of the smaller defense contractors in attendance at IDEX 2023. (Lee Ferran / Breaking Defense)

An unmanned large helicopter is among the many displays for the UAE defense conglomerate EDGE Group at IDEX 2023. (Lee Ferran / Breaking Defense)

As part of its high-energy laser pitch to international customers at IDEX 2023, Lockheed Martin displayed this quad-copter apparently taken out by a laser weapon. (Lee Ferran / Breaking Defense)

A shoulder-fired weapon, called Red Arrow, on display at the booth for the Chinese firm Norinco at IDEX 2023. (Lee Ferran / Breaking Defense)

A warship built by Albwardy Damen, a joint venture between Albwardy Investment, Dubai and the Damen Shipyards Group, the Netherlands, floats calmly at NAVDEX 2023. (Lee Ferran / Breaking Defense)

At IDEX 2023, an Egytpian firm debuts what it says is a C5ISR platform that can talk to both eastern and western systems. (Agnes Helou / Breaking Defense)

Collins Aerospace unveiled a new drone design at IDEX 2023. (Agnes Helou / Breaking Defense)

EDGE Group, a large Emerati defense conglomerate, shows an intimidating unmanned aerial vehicle in a prime spot on the show floor at IDEX 2023. (Agnes Helou / Breaking Defense)

Abu Dhabi's own Blue Cat boat sits on display near, but not in, the water at NAVDEX 2023. (Lee Ferran / Breaking Defense)

French firm Nexter showed out at IDEX 2023, including showing a handful of its mobile artillery options. (Lee Ferran / Breaking Defense)

A spectator checks out a sniper rifle at the EDGE pavilion at IDEX 2023. (Lee Ferran / Breaking Defense)

Turkish Aerospace's Anka drone, spotted here at IDEX 2023, can fly for 30-plus hours at around 20,000 feet, the company says. (Lee Ferran / Breaking Defense)