Kuala lumpur: The Defence Services Asia (DSA) and National Security Exhibition (NATSEC) Asia 2026 commenced today at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC), featuring the theme 'Empowering the Capability and Resilience of Technology Miners'. The event will run until Thursday and is expected to be officially opened by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim later today.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, this 19th edition of the exhibition has seen a notable increase in participation, with 1,456 companies from 63 countries, compared to 1,324 companies from 60 countries in 2024. The exhibition also welcomes new participants from Croatia, Finland, Hungary, Japan, and Russia, marking their debut in the event.

The exhibition will host a keynote address by Sultan Nazrin Shah of Perak at the Putrajaya Forum on Tuesday, focusing on 'ASEAN Security in the Age of Emerging Technologies'. Defence Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin revealed that 368 Malaysian companies are participating under the Malaysian Defence Industry Alliance pavilion, highlighting local innovations. Additionally, the Defence Ministry has issued Industry Collaboration Programme (ICP) documents worth an estimated RM1.4 billion to selected companies to promote technology transfer and skill development.

DSA and NATSEC Asia 2026 serves as a platform for showcasing conventional defence systems, electronic warfare technologies, and internal security solutions. It also aims to bolster international cooperation through meetings, forums, and strategic dialogue sessions. Prominent participants include DEFTECH, ASELSAN, Turkish Aerospace Industries, and many others, representing a wide range of capabilities in the defence and security sectors.

The event is exclusively accessible to government officials in defence and security, industry professionals, military personnel, police, and invited guests.