How Exhibition Defence Models Are Used at DSEI and Farnborough

Exhibition defence models remain one of the most effective tools available to UK defence primes, SMEs and Tier 2/3 suppliers preparing for major trade events. Whether the objective is stakeholder engagement at DSEI or capability demonstration at the Farnborough International Airshow, physical scale models bridge the gap between complex technical documentation and the immediate, tangible understanding that decision-makers need on a busy exhibition floor. This article examines how exhibition defence models are deployed across the UK’s two flagship defence and aerospace events – what they communicate, who they reach and why they continue to outperform purely digital alternatives in high-stakes exhibition environments.

For a broader overview of how scale replica models are used across UK defence, see our guide How Scale Replica Models Are Used in UK Defence along with our articles on how defence models support procurement and physical vs digital defence models.

Physical models provide immediate spatial understanding that screens and brochures cannot replicate. At high-footfall trade events where exhibitors compete for the attention of senior military officials, procurement teams and international delegations, exhibition defence models serve as focal points that draw visitors into meaningful conversations about capability, integration and design. They transform abstract programme narratives into something stakeholders can walk around, examine from multiple angles and physically point to during discussions.

Defence exhibitions such as DSEI and Farnborough are neutral, credible platforms where the use of exhibition defence models is standard industry practice. Official exhibitor programmes at both events consistently feature physical mockups – from full-scale concept demonstrators in exhibition halls to precision-engineered scale models on individual stands. The practice is driven by a practical reality: when a programme manager from DE&S, a NATO delegation lead or a Tier 2 supply chain partner visits a stand, a well-crafted model communicates more in 30 seconds than a slide deck can achieve in 30 minutes.[1][2]

How Are Exhibition Defence Models Used at DSEI?

Exhibition defence models at DSEI enable primes and SMEs to communicate complex capabilities to MOD stakeholders, international delegations and Tier 2/3 partners through physical mockups of aircraft, vehicles, naval vessels and systems that bridge technical documentation gaps during live demonstrations and meetings.

DSEI: Scale and Reach

DSEI (Defence & Security Equipment International) is recognised as the world’s largest biennial land, sea and air defence exhibition, held at ExCeL London. DSEI 2025 attracted over 1,700 exhibitors from more than 50 nations and welcomed 45,000+ visitors, including senior military and government decision-makers from across the globe. The event spans dedicated zones – Aerospace, Land, Naval, Manufacturing, Medical, Space and Tech – each structured to showcase specific defence domains and foster collaboration.[3][4][5][6]

Stand-Level Engagement

Within each DSEI zone, exhibitors deploy exhibition defence models as centrepieces for stand engagement. The Naval Zone, situated at ExCeL’s unique dockside setting, spotlights the latest advancements in maritime defence and provides the opportunity to view cutting-edge vessels and maritime technology up close. Exhibitors in this zone routinely use scale models of frigates, submarines and offshore patrol vessels to illustrate hull forms, sensor placements and modular mission bay configurations that would otherwise require classified technical drawings to communicate.[7]

The Land Zone showcases cutting-edge vehicles, weapons, ammunition and equipment from global innovators. Here, exhibition defence models of armoured fighting vehicles, command platforms and logistics systems allow procurement officials to understand variant configurations – for instance, comparing command-and-control, infantry fighting and reconnaissance variants of the same base platform side by side on a single stand.[3]

SME Access and the ADS Pavilion

DSEI 2025 featured the most significant SME presence in the event’s history, with over 700 SMEs exhibiting and more than 40% of all exhibitors appearing for the first time. The ADS Group Pavilion – the second-largest country pavilion at DSEI – hosted more than 180 organisations ranging from SMEs and mid-tiers to primes, academia and government bodies. For smaller companies without the budget for full-scale demonstrators, precision-engineered exhibition defence models at 1:10, 1:20 or 1:48 scale offer a cost-effective way to demonstrate capability alongside larger competitors.[8][5][9]

The Future Tech Hub, which has tripled in size since 2021, provides a further entry point for technology-focused exhibitors, many of whom use physical models and prototypes to demonstrate how their innovations integrate into larger platform systems.[10]

International Delegations and Stakeholder Meetings

DSEI’s unique ability to attract international delegations – representatives from over 90 countries attended DSEI 2025 – means exhibition defence models frequently serve as briefing tools during formal delegation meetings. When a UK prime briefs a visiting Chief of Defence Staff or procurement director, a physical model on the meeting table provides a shared reference point that transcends language barriers and removes ambiguity about platform dimensions, sensor placements and integration points.[11]

How Are Exhibition Defence Models Used at Farnborough?

Exhibition defence models at the Farnborough International Airshow enable aerospace and defence companies to demonstrate next-generation aircraft, systems and concepts to trade visitors, military delegations and government stakeholders through physical displays that complement the event’s renowned flying and static aircraft programmes.

Farnborough: The Aerospace Showcase

The Farnborough International Airshow, held biennially at the Farnborough International Exhibition & Conference Centre in Hampshire, is the UK’s premier aerospace trade event. FIA 2024 welcomed over 100,000 visitors, 1,500 exhibitors from more than 60 countries, 90 civil and military aircraft, and over 420 civil, military and space delegations. The next edition, FIA 2026, takes place 20–24 July 2026.[12][13][14]

The show’s flying and static displays remain among its most popular features, with the natural amphitheatre of Farnborough Aerodrome allowing aircraft to be displayed to maximum effect. However, many of the most significant programmes on show – particularly those still in development – rely not on flight-ready aircraft but on exhibition defence models and full-scale concept demonstrators.[1]

Case Study: The GCAP/Tempest Full-Scale Model

One of the most prominent recent examples of exhibition defence models at Farnborough was the full-scale concept model of the Tempest next-generation combat aircraft, unveiled at FIA 2024 by BAE Systems, Leonardo and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries as part of the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP). The model, displayed in Hall 5, featured a significantly evolved design with a larger wingspan than previous concepts.[15][16]

Built by specialist model-makers Artem, the full-scale model weighed approximately two tonnes and was constructed from high-density, fire-retardant polystyrene with an epoxy and lightweight water-based filler finish. At the exhibition, the model served dual purpose: it was both a physical demonstrator that visitors could examine up close and a giant screen for projected graphics illustrating the aircraft’s capability systems. It provided the backdrop for numerous VIP visits, including one by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.[2]

This was not Farnborough’s first encounter with a full-scale Tempest model. At FIA 2018, the original Tempest concept was unveiled by then-Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson alongside BAE Systems Chief Executive Charles Woodburn. The progression from the 2018 model to the 2024 GCAP model physically demonstrated eight years of design evolution to stakeholders – a communication objective that no slide presentation could achieve as effectively.[17]

Defence Exhibition Models Across the Farnborough Halls

Beyond headline full-scale demonstrators, exhibition defence models at Farnborough appear across multiple halls and stand sizes. Defence exhibitors use scale models to present:

• Aircraft variants and configurations – showing different weapon loadings, sensor packages or mission fits on the same airframe.
• Unmanned aerial systems (UAS) – physically demonstrating platform scale, launch mechanisms and payload integration for drone systems that may not yet be cleared for flight demonstration.[18]
• Infrastructure and facilities – modelling forward operating bases, maintenance hangars or training facilities that support programme bids.
• Engine and subsystem cutaways – allowing procurement teams to examine internal component layouts without requiring access to classified engineering drawings.

FIA 2024 saw a growing presence of eVTOL and advanced air mobility concepts in both the static and flying displays, many of which were represented by physical models and concept demonstrators rather than flight-capable prototypes – further reinforcing the role of exhibition defence models in communicating capability at early programme stages.[18]

What Do Exhibition Defence Models Communicate to Stakeholders?

Exhibition defence models communicate capability, maturity, integration and programme confidence to stakeholders across the defence supply chain. They translate engineering detail into an accessible format that supports multiple audience types simultaneously – from technical assessors to senior decision-makers.

Capability Demonstration

A well-engineered exhibition defence model communicates platform dimensions, sensor placements, hardpoint configurations, signature management features and variant options at a glance. At DSEI, where exhibitors showcase technologies spanning all five domains – Air, Land, Naval, Cyber and Space – models enable visitors to assess how a platform or system fits within a broader force structure.[19]

Programme Maturity Signals

The physical quality and detail of an exhibition defence model signals programme maturity to experienced procurement stakeholders. A highly detailed, precision-engineered model suggests that design work has progressed beyond early concept and that the exhibitor is confident in the platform’s form factor. This is particularly important for SMEs and Tier 2/3 suppliers seeking to demonstrate credibility alongside established primes.

Lead Generation and Meeting Facilitation

Exhibition defence models serve as conversation starters and meeting anchors. At events like DSEI, where the ADS Pavilion alone hosts over 180 organisations, stand footfall is competitive. A striking physical model draws visitors to a stand; initiates dialogue and provides a natural structure for a capability briefing – moving the conversation from general interest to specific technical discussion

What Are the Key Differences Between DSEI and Farnborough for Exhibition Defence Models?

While both events are biennial and UK-based, DSEI and Farnborough serve different audiences and exhibition formats, which affects how exhibition defence models are deployed.

At DSEI, exhibition defence models tend to be deployed at stand level across multiple zones, supporting detailed one-to-one meetings with procurement and programme teams. At Farnborough, the exhibition defence models mix includes larger-format demonstrators – such as the GCAP/Tempest full-scale model – alongside stand-level scale models, reflecting the event’s emphasis on public-facing aerospace spectacle combined with behind-the-scenes trade engagement.

How Should Exhibitors Plan Exhibition Defence Models for DSEI 2027 and Farnborough 2026?

Planning for exhibition defence models should begin 6–12 months ahead of the event to allow for design consultation, engineering, production and finishing. Key considerations include:

• Audience mapping – identify which DSEI zones or Farnborough halls your target stakeholders will visit, and design models that speak directly to their requirements.
• Scale and format – full-scale models (where budget allows) create maximum impact; 1:10 to 1:48 scale models offer portability and cost-effectiveness for stand-level use.
• Modularity – consider models with removable panels, interchangeable weapon loads or configurable mission bays that allow different capability stories to be told during different meetings.
• Confidentiality – for programmes with classification constraints, work with a model manufacturer experienced in defence-grade confidentiality to ensure sensitive design features are appropriately managed.
• Multi-event use – models built to professional exhibition standards can be redeployed across DSEI, Farnborough, DPRTE, DVD and international exhibitions, maximising return on investment.

Farnborough International Airshow 2026 takes place 20–24 July 2026, and DSEI 2027 is expected to return to ExCeL London in September 2027. More than 100 companies rebooked for FIA 2026 immediately after FIA 2024, including major exhibitors such as Bell, MBDA, and Northrop Grumman. Early planning ensures models are ready for stand design integration and pre-event marketing.[14][12]

Defence Models UK (DMUK) brings over 60 years of specialist experience producing exhibition defence models for events including DSEI, Farnborough and international defence exhibitions. For programme-specific consultation, visit defencemodels.co.uk/about-dmuk.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Sources List with Credibility Notes

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