Fighter jets remain one of the main crowd-pullers at the International Aerospace Exhibition (ILA) in Berlin. But a walk around the showground quickly makes one thing clear: aircraft are no longer the only attraction. Drones, autonomous systems and digital technologies have emerged as some of the defining themes of this year's event.
The exhibition got off to a disrupted start after pro-Palestinian activists temporarily blocked both access roads to the venue at Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER), causing delays for visitors. Shuttle buses were unable to operate for a period before police cleared the blockades later in the morning.
By midday, attention had largely returned to the exhibition itself. Across the sprawling site, companies were unveiling new aircraft, defence systems and space technologies, while military officials and investors moved between stands looking for a glimpse of what may shape the industry in the years ahead.
Around 750 exhibitors from 37 countries are taking part, with organisers expecting more than 100,000 visitors. The Bundeswehr is hard to miss. Between the exhibition halls, soldiers staff recruitment stands, military hardware is on display and flight demonstrations regularly draw crowds to the runway.
