BAKU — President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan visited the 5th Anniversary Azerbaijan International Defence Exhibition ‘ADEX-2024’ and the 14th International Exhibition for Internal Security, Safety and Rescue Equipment ‘Securex Caspian’ at the Baku Expo Center. These key events showcased global defense technologies and internal security solutions, drawing significant international participation.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Minister of Defense Zakir Hasanov and Minister of Defense Industry Vugar Mustafayev briefed President Aliyev during his tour of the exhibitions. The ADEX event, marking its 5th anniversary, has seen growing international involvement over the years, with this edition hosting more than 218 companies from approximately 40 countries.

The exhibitions, initiated by Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Defence Industry and supported by the Ministry of Defense, are organized by Caspian Event Organisers with Caspian Event Management as the international partner. New to this year’s event were 34% of companies, reflecting refreshed international interest. Notable new participant countries included Hungary, Qatar, Singapore, and Slovakia, enhancing the diversity of the technologies on display.

President Aliyev’s visit included stops at various national pavilions where he inspected advanced military technologies. At the Azerbaijani pavilion, operated by ‘Azersilah’ Defense Industry Holding, innovative military equipment such as drones and automatic cannons were exhibited. Additionally, President Aliyev reviewed international exhibits from countries like Belarus, Serbia, Turkiye, Slovakia, China, Pakistan, the UAE, Russia, Qatar, Ukraine, and Israel, showcasing a broad spectrum of defense capabilities.

Highlights from the exhibition included Turkiye’s Roketsan with its advanced missile technologies, and from Israel, companies like Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and IAI presented the latest in defense technology. The exhibition also marked the first participation of the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense, presenting modern weapon systems.

The outdoor segment of the exhibition featured demonstrations of armored vehicles, drones, and other significant military hardware, emphasizing Azerbaijan’s growing capabilities in defense manufacturing and innovation.