The ILA Berlin aerospace trade fair is placing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) at the heart of its program this year. From June 10 to 14, 2026, groundbreaking drone technologies for civilian and military applications will be presented at Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER).
Prominent exhibitors include industry giants such as Airbus and Hensoldt, as well as specialized companies like MBDA and Quantum Systems. Emerging startups like Helsing and Stark Defence also use the platform to present innovations in artificial intelligence and autonomous flight control to an international audience of experts.
A central element of the trade fair is the newly created "Drone Pavilion," which combines the static presentation of aircraft with an active flight zone. In this area, visitors can observe the capabilities of modern systems under realistic conditions. The integration of a dedicated flight zone directly on the exhibition grounds marks a technological advancement in the presentation of UAVs, as the demonstration of flight maneuvers and autonomous functions has previously often been restricted by strict regulatory requirements in the immediate vicinity of commercial airports.
A technical highlight of the supporting program is the "Swarm Drone Challenge," jointly organized by MBDA Germany and the aviation innovation center Brigkair. In this competition, international teams from science and industry compete against each other to demonstrate the cooperative capabilities of autonomous drone swarms. In a complex "capture-the-flag" scenario, the swarms must solve tasks without direct human control, placing the highest demands on sensor technology, communication between the drones, and the algorithms of swarm intelligence.
The increased presence of drone systems at ILA reflects the growing importance of this technology for global defense and transport logistics. Experts expect that the networking of unmanned systems with manned platforms, known as "manned-unmanned teaming," will be a key topic of discussion. The trade fair serves as an interface between military procurement agencies and the civil aviation industry to identify synergies in the development of high-frequency sensors and robust data links.