Focus on security

An unmanned aerial system model is displayed at one of the exhibition booths.

ROWS of military hardware, aircraft models, and tactical gear draw curious crowds at the 19th edition of Defence Services Asia (DSA) trade event in Kuala Lumpur.

Delegates and trade visitors weaved through the bustling exhibition halls of the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (Mitec) during the four-day event.

Held alongside National Security (Natsec) Asia 2026, the event brought together about 1,400 companies from 60 countries, along with defence and security exhibitors and industry representatives, in a trade-focused setting.

As trade-only events, DSA and Natsec Asia 2026 are not open to the public, with industry players, officials and trade visitors filling the venue instead.

Natsec Asia covers areas such as policing, cybersecurity, border control, disaster response and national security systems, while DSA has a broader defence focus spanning land, air and maritime sectors.

At some booths, aircraft models and unmanned aerial systems are displayed at eye level for closer inspection.

Elsewhere, rifles, tactical gear and ammunition are laid out in rows, while digital screens show product videos and technical briefings.

Some booths also feature simulators and interactive displays that give visitors a closer look at how the systems work.

Across the exhibition floor, local and international visitors stop at displays of firearms, munitions, surveillance systems, training simulators and robotic platforms, with some pausing for photographs and others stopping to study product labels or technical briefings.