Israeli Drone Industry Gathers in Tel Aviv for UVID 2026

Israel's leading unmanned systems conference returns on November 12, bringing together defense manufacturers, military officials and international delegations to examine autonomous warfare, counter-drone technologies and the expanding global UAV market.

The 14th edition of UVID DroneTech will take place at Expo Tel Aviv on November 12, 2026, bringing together manufacturers, military officials, technology companies and investors from Israel and abroad.

Organizers expect more than 5,000 participants and over 100 exhibiting companies at this year's event, according to Israeli technology publication Techtime. The conference and exhibition will occupy approximately 6,000 square meters, with additional demonstrations and industry activities scheduled throughout November 10–15.

Under the theme The Drone Age: Paving the Future, UVID 2026 will focus on the growing military and commercial importance of autonomous systems.

Israeli Defense Companies Take Center Stage

The conference will feature senior representatives from some of Israel's leading defense technology companies, including Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Elbit Systems, Aeronautics and Ondas Autonomous Systems.

Announced speakers include Eitan Arad, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Sales at IAI's Military Aircraft Group; Ziv Avni, Head of Loitering Munitions and Tactical UAS at Elbit Systems; and Dr. Judith Hocherman-Frommer, CTO and Chief Engineer of Ondas Autonomous Systems.

Other participants include Dan Slasky, President and CEO of Aeronautics, Rani Plaut, CEO and co-founder of AIR, and representatives of Smart Shooter, Mobilicom and Steadicopter.

The conference will address drone swarms, artificial intelligence, autonomous operations and systems designed to detect and intercept hostile drones.

Particular attention will be given to fiber-optic-guided UAVs, which present new challenges for traditional electronic warfare systems because they do not rely on conventional radio control links.

European Defense Industry Links

Although the event takes place in Israel, UVID 2026 also has direct relevance for European defense companies seeking new technologies, suppliers and industrial partners.

Latvia's Investment and Development Agency (LIAA) is organizing a business delegation to Tel Aviv from November 11 to 15, focusing on defense technology cooperation, dual-use innovation and joint research and development.

The Latvian program includes business matchmaking on November 11, participation in the UVID exhibition on November 12 and an optional technology demonstration event in Yeruham on November 15.

The mission highlights growing interest among European companies in Israel's unmanned systems ecosystem.

Israeli manufacturers already have an established presence in European defense procurement. As AdriaDefense previously reported, Israeli drone company XTEND secured a contract worth up to $15 million with an undisclosed European NATO member earlier this year.

Meanwhile, Ondas recently announced additional counter-drone contracts, including an agreement involving a European police organization.

These developments illustrate the expanding commercial opportunities connecting Israeli technology developers with European military and security customers.

Building on UVID 2025

AdriaDefense also covered the 13th edition of UVID DroneTech in November 2025, highlighting the event's role in connecting defense officials, technology developers, startups and international industry representatives.

The 2025 conference took place on November 26 at Expo Tel Aviv, with a focus on the expanding role of drones in military operations, security and civilian applications.

This year's edition builds on that foundation, placing greater emphasis on autonomous warfare, counter-UAS technologies and international defense industry cooperation.

Read our previous coverage: Israel to Host Premier Drone Systems Event — UVID DroneTech 2025.

A Growing Market for Autonomous Systems

Beyond military applications, UVID will address civilian aviation, emergency response, logistics, airspace management and infrastructure protection.

The conference will also examine the challenges of scaling production, securing supply chains and bringing emerging technologies into operational use.

Founded in 2012 and chaired by Alon Unger, UVID has become an established meeting point for Israel's unmanned systems industry and international partners.

Further information, including the conference program and registration details, is available on the official UVID DroneTech website.