Uzbekistan is using the Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) 2026 exhibition in Pretoria as a platform to showcase its growing defence-industrial and technological capabilities, while creating opportunities for new international partnerships and market access.

Participating under the “Made in Uzbekistan” national brand, Uzbek defence-industry representatives have established a dedicated national pavilion at the 2026 edition of AAD, which is being held at Air Force Base Waterkloof in Pretoria from 16 to 20 September.

The participation places Uzbekistan among the international exhibitors engaging with governments, defence institutions, industry representatives and potential business partners at one of Africa’s major aerospace and defence exhibitions.

Uzbekistan showcases growing defence capabilities

The Uzbek pavilion is presenting products and technologies developed by companies within the country’s defence-industrial sector.

According to Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Defence Industry, the exhibition display includes defence products, ammunition, personal protective equipment, military equipment, aviation-related products, drones and counter-drone systems. The participation is intended to promote Uzbekistan’s industrial capabilities and create opportunities for international cooperation and new markets.

Uzbekistan’s presence is particularly significant because the country is participating as the only Central Asian country represented at AAD 2026, according to Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Defence Industry.

The national pavilion has subsequently attracted interest from international specialists and delegations from African countries, providing a platform for discussions around potential industrial and technological cooperation.

South African ministers visit Uzbekistan’s pavilion

The Uzbek Embassy in South Africa highlighted visits to the pavilion by senior South African government officials during AAD 2026.

Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Parks Tau visited the pavilion and was briefed on Uzbekistan’s manufacturing capabilities. According to the Embassy, the visit included discussions around Uzbekistan’s industrial achievements and prospects for deeper trade and industrial cooperation.

The engagement comes against the backdrop of growing economic discussions between South Africa and Uzbekistan.

In August 2026, Uzbekistan’s Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade, Laziz Kudratov, held discussions with Minister Tau on expanding bilateral trade, investment and industrial cooperation. The two sides also discussed preparations for a business mission involving approximately 50 Uzbek companies to Johannesburg and targeted business-to-business engagements with South African companies.

This broader economic engagement provides an important context for Uzbekistan’s participation at AAD 2026, where industrial capabilities are being presented directly to international markets.

Defence diplomacy and industrial cooperation

South Africa’s Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Angie Motshekga, also visited the Uzbekistan pavilion, where she reviewed products presented by the country’s defence industry.

The Embassy of Uzbekistan said the visit formed part of broader engagement around the country’s participation at AAD 2026 and highlighted prospects for stronger military-technical ties.

AAD 2026 itself has been positioned by the South African government as a platform for technological innovation, international collaboration, defence diplomacy, trade and investment in the aerospace and defence sectors. The 2026 exhibition is taking place under the theme “Africa’s Gateway to Defence and Aerospace Collaboration.”

The Uzbek participation therefore extends beyond product exhibition, providing an opportunity for the country to engage with African markets and explore potential partnerships in defence-related manufacturing and technology.

Interest from African delegations

The Uzbek pavilion has also drawn visitors from across the African continent.

Among those reported to have visited the pavilion was the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Jules Banza Muilambwe, who viewed products and technologies presented by Uzbek companies.

The interaction reflects the wider international character of AAD 2026, where military delegations, defence companies and government representatives from different countries have gathered in Pretoria.

According to Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Defence Industry, more than 350 companies from over 30 countries are participating in AAD 2026. The exhibition combines business engagements and professional meetings with an air show programme.

From “Made in Uzbekistan” to international markets

For Uzbekistan, the AAD platform represents an opportunity to position its domestic defence industry within international markets.

The country’s pavilion features products from its growing defence and technology ecosystem, including unmanned systems, counter-drone technologies, protective equipment, aviation components and other defence-related products.

Recent reporting from Uzbekistan has also highlighted the country’s development of new unmanned technologies and the participation of several Uzbek companies at AAD 2026.

The exhibition provides these companies with an opportunity to engage directly with international buyers, government representatives, defence institutions and industry specialists.

For South Africa and other African markets, such engagements can also create opportunities to explore cooperation in areas such as technology, manufacturing, industrial partnerships, skills development and market access, subject to applicable national laws, regulations and procurement frameworks.

AAD 2026 strengthens Pretoria’s role as an international meeting point

The Uzbek participation also highlights the international economic and diplomatic significance of AAD 2026.

The South African government expects the exhibition to attract thousands of trade visitors and delegations from numerous countries. The event brings together the aerospace, aviation, maritime and defence sectors and provides a platform for governments and companies to engage around technological development and industrial cooperation.

For Uzbekistan, establishing a national pavilion under the “Made in Uzbekistan” brand places its industrial capabilities directly before African and international stakeholders.

As the exhibition concludes on 20 September 2026, Uzbekistan’s participation demonstrates its interest in expanding its international economic footprint and identifying new opportunities for cooperation beyond its traditional markets.