Israeli firms say they will participate in DSEI, despite ban on officials

JERUSALEM — Israel’s three largest defense companies said they plan to still attend the British Defence Exhibition & Trade Show (DSEI), despite a decision by the British government to not invite an Israeli government delegation in protest of the Gaza conflict.

Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, Israel Aerospace Industries and Elbit Systems all confirmed to Breaking Defense that they plan to attend the show, which takes place from Sept. 9-12, even though the Israeli Ministry of Defense said late last week that it would withdraw from the exhibition and not have a national pavilion. 

The British government linked the lack of official invite to Israel’s conduct in Gaza.

“The Israeli government’s decision to further escalate its military operation in Gaza is wrong,” a UK government spokesperson said on Aug. 29, according to the BBC. “As a result, we can confirm that no Israeli government delegation will be invited to attend DSEI UK 2025.”

The Israeli Ministry of Defense responded to the UK decision by saying that “these restrictions amount to a deliberate and regrettable act of discrimination against Israel’s representatives. Accordingly, the Israel Ministry of Defense (IMOD) will withdraw from the exhibition and will not establish a national pavilion.”

“At a time when Israel is engaged on multiple fronts against Islamist extremists and terrorist organisations – forces that also threaten the West and international shipping lanes – this decision by Britain plays into the hands of extremists, grants legitimacy to terrorism, and introduces political considerations wholly inappropriate for a professional defence industry exhibition,” the ministry said.

The ministry noted, however, that “Israeli industries that choose to participate will, however, receive the Ministry’s full support.” In addition to the big three Israeli firms, some smaller companies told Breaking Defense they were still seeking to understand how things had changed in light of the decision. Some signalled their intent to showcase their wares at DSEI, including Uvision, Orbit and Smartshooter, who each announced product unveilings destined for DSEI today.

Israel’s defense exports reached a record $14.7 billion in 2024, with 54 percent of deals in 2024 made with European countries. For instance, Israel has sold the long-range Arrow air defense system and Trophy active protection system to Germany and the medium range David’s Sling to Finland

Israeli companies also have a footprint in the UK. Elbit Systems also has a subsidiary headquatered there, and in 2022 Rafael acquired Pearson in the UK. 

But this also isn’t the first time Israeli defense firms have been put in a tight spot at international defense expos. In 2024 and 2025 the French government controversially banned Israeli firms’ participation in exhibitions in Paris, also in protest to Israel’s conduct in Gaza. During the 2025 Paris Air Show, organizers put black walls around the Israeli pavilion.

At large defense shows Israel’s Ministry of Defense often has a national pavilion which is inaugurated by the ministry. SIBAT, the Israel Ministry of Defense’s International Defense Cooperation Directorate, is the one of the main organization responsible for supporting some of the defense firms that take part. For instance, in 2023 SIBAT led a delegation of seven Israeli defense companies to the Singapore Defense Exhibition. These often include smaller and larger companies. At DSEI Japan in May the Ministry of Defense Directorate of Defense R and D (DDR&D-MAFAT) led eight Israeli start-ups to the event. The UK ban and ministry decision mean these ministry-backed aspects of the show won’t take place.

The DSEI UK website as of August 31 continued to note Israel as one of the participants, alongside India, the USA, Turkey, Switzerland, Germany, France, Finland, Canada, Italy Taiwan. DSEI 2023 broke all previous attendance records, DSEI said at the time, noting that there were 1,500 exhibitors.