foto: DSS, Public domain/Czech Defense Industry Shines at WDS 2026
The World Defense Show 2026, which runs from February 8 to 12 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, has become one of the most important global platforms for the defense industry.
The third edition of this event, organized by the General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI), is taking place at the huge Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center and attracts hundreds of exhibitors from more than 80 countries. Through its Vision 2030 strategy, Saudi Arabia is investing heavily in the development of its domestic defense industry, localization of production, and transition from a mere importer of weapons to an active manufacturer and technology partner. The fair thus serves as a key venue for concluding contracts worth tens of billions of dollars, establishing contacts, and transferring technologies. This year’s event is themed “The Future of Defense Integration,” emphasizing the integration of all five domains of defense – air, land, sea, space, and cyber security.
World Defense Show 2026
The significance of WDS 2026 lies primarily in the fact that Riyadh is rapidly establishing itself as a central hub for the global defense business. Over 100,000 visitors are expected, including high-level military and government delegations from dozens of countries. The fair combines live demonstrations of technology, static exhibitions, dynamic displays, and an extensive conference program focused on artificial intelligence in defense, autonomous systems, drones, anti-drone technologies, and multi-domain operations. A new feature is the addition of zones such as the Unmanned Systems Zone, Naval Zone, Saudi Supply Chain Zone, and Future Defense Lab, where start-ups, universities, investors, and large arms manufacturers meet. The first days of the fair were marked by official openings, tours of national pavilions, and the first major announcements, with AI and autonomous systems dominating most of the discussions.
The fair’s program includes not only exhibition halls, but also live outdoor demonstrations of vehicles, drones, and missile systems in motion. An important part of the event are high-level conferences, panels, and B2B meetings, which often lead to immediate contract signings. The Saudi side places great emphasis on localizing production and technology transfer, which is reflected in many new partnerships. Among the world premieres and significant innovations at this year’s event was the presentation by Saudi SAMI (Saudi Arabian Military Industries), which unveiled over 60 national products, including new entities such as SAMI Land Company and SAMI Autonomous Company focused on autonomous systems across domains. SAMI presented a range of HEET wheeled armored vehicles in 4×4, 6×6, and 8×8 configurations, including a variant with a 105mm cannon. Other attractions include Turkey’s FNSS with its new generation Kaplan FSRV vehicle and Egyptian drones and rocket launchers. Russian companies showcased modernized systems such as the Sarma rocket launcher and RUS-PE loitering munitions.
Significant Czech participation
Czech companies have a very visible and strong presence at WDS 2026, confirming the growing importance of the Czech defense industry in the Middle East, a region with high budgets for military modernization. The largest exhibition is presented by the Czechoslovak Group. CSG brings together a number of its key companies, which are exhibiting trucks, special applications, and armored vehicles such as the Pandur 8x8 EVO, radars, special sensors, and ammunition. Other Czech entities are exhibiting in the national pavilion, where MESIT asd is presenting alongside OMNIPOL GROUP, ERA, and AERO Vodochody. These companies offer on-board and ground communication systems, avionics, radars, and electronics for the defense sector. Overall, the Czech participation showcases a wide range of capabilities, from heavy equipment and sensors to communication and avionics systems.
The participation of DSS deserves special attention
“The World Defense Show 2026 in Riyadh is in full swing, and our company, DSS (Defence & Security Systems), is there. As a Czech manufacturer of small arms, specializing primarily in light machine guns, we have a unique opportunity to present our technologies at one of the world’s most important defense exhibitions,” Jan Vokoun, Business Development Manager at DSS, told Security Magazine. “Riyadh is once again proving to be a place where key players in the defense industry meet and where new opportunities for international cooperation arise.”
The DSS exhibition is open around the clock. During the first few days, its stand was visited by a number of delegations, experts, and potential partners from around the world. “Face-to-face meetings, sharing experiences and direct discussions on specific projects are the main value of this event for us. We are very pleased with the growing interest in Czech manufacturing and the technologically advanced solutions that DSS brings to the field of defense and security,” said Jan Vokoun.
The main attraction of the exhibition is the Mk24 light machine gun
The main attraction of the DSS presentation is the Mk24 light machine gun, which is attracting extraordinary attention from visitors to the exhibition. We are looking forward to the next days of the fair and to new inspiring discussions that may lead to long-term partnerships and joint projects.
The PZD Mk24 machine gun is the company’s first completely original design. The weapon was developed as an ultra-lightweight machine gun in 5.56 × 45 mm NATO caliber to meet the requirements of 21st-century operators. Its main innovation is a significant reduction in weight – the empty weapon weighs 6.2 kg, which is approximately 20% less than conventional weapons in the same category. Thanks to its long piston stroke, adjustable gas regulator, and recoil-reducing design, the PZD Mk24 offers significantly better controllability during automatic fire than most of its competitors. The machine gun has interchangeable barrels (most often 14" or 16"), a two-way trigger mechanism (single shots + full automatic fire), and a full set of Picatinny rails for optics and accessories. Its effective range is stated as around 600 m, with a maximum suppressive fire range of up to 1200 m. The PZD Mk24 has already been delivered to the Ukrainian armed forces, which is currently its most visible user.
The World Defense Show 2026 once again confirms that Riyadh has become one of the main centers of the global defense industry. For Czech companies, this event represents a key opportunity to establish strategic partnerships in regions with huge budgets for defense and modernization. The fair continues until February 12 and is expected to bring a number of other announcements and contracts in the coming days.
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