Armor debuts with its own section at Hannover Messe - Hannover Messe 2024 debuts Defence Production Park amid AI and automation focus
This year's Hannover Messe will introduce a new focus on defence technology for the first time. The main event, opening on 22 April, will feature a dedicated Defence Production Park alongside its usual industrial innovations. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will officially launch the exhibition.
The Hannover Messe 2024 will host around 3,500 exhibitors, including major tech firms and over 200 startups. As in previous years, the central theme remains artificial intelligence in production, automation, and robotics.
A new addition this year is the Defence Production Park, spanning 1,200 square metres. Around 40 companies will display manufacturing technologies for defence applications. While no specific weapons production systems are listed, the section highlights broader defence-related industrial capabilities.
Key attendees at the Defence Production Park will include Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger and German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius. The event also serves as a preview for the Defence & Security Equipment International Germany expo, scheduled for 2027.
The inclusion of defence technology marks a shift for the Hannover Messe, traditionally focused on civilian industrial innovation. The Defence Production Park will showcase manufacturing solutions while drawing high-profile figures from politics and industry. The event runs until 26 April, with discussions likely to shape future defence and security collaborations.
