From the 20th to 24th of July, Farnborough International Airshow (FIA) returns to Farnborough International Exhibition and Conference Centre in Farnborough, Hampshire. Although the event is most well-known for its airshow, the primary aim behind FIA is an arms fair and civil aerospace exhibition, where weapons companies will market their deadly equipment and technology to international delegates from around the world.
The year’s FIA is the largest one yet, and will feature an increased presence from the United States, responsible for almost a million deaths in its “forever wars” since 2001, and tens of millions of civilian deaths since 1945. There will be over 1000 weapons companies exhibiting, including Israeli weapons companies such as Elbit Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries, as well as UK-based F-35 component producers such as L3 Harris, BAE Systems and Leonardo.
FIA is held every two years, alternating with DSEI, and is one of the biggest weapons fairs in Britain. In 2024, Farnborough International Airshow welcomed over 100 000 participants, and the arms fair expects an even higher number this year. FIA is very important to the arms trade public image and lobby, as it is run by Farnborough International Ltd – a subsidiary company owned by the ADS group. ADS describes itself as “the Premier Trade Organisation for all companies operating in the UK Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space industries”.
This year’s Farnborough International Airshow includes a Technology and AI theme, boasting that this can create “safer” and “more efficient” military operations. The militarisation of AI aims to increase the speed and reach of deadly targeting across Gaza, Iran and Lebanon – killing more civilians with seemingly even more impunity.
FIA 2026 will also include a “family friendly” day and a careers event for young people on 24 July, both which allow weapons companies to try to hide their genocidal profiteering through public relations maneuvering. Farnborough International Airshow offers students free tickets to its student exhibition, “Pioneers of tomorrow” and markets this publicly accessible day of the weapons fair as a “family day out”, with free tickets to under-21s.
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