Israel’s biggest defense firms exhibiting at Paris Air Show despite Iran conflict

PARIS AIR SHOW — Despite the new conflict between Israel and Iran, the top Israeli defense firms said they will still showcase their wares at the Paris Air Show — albeit with likely smaller delegations than originally planned.

Israel launched attacks late night Friday on Iran, and has continued a series of airstrikes on military targets in and around Tehran. In turn, Iran has launched waves of missiles and drones against Israel, including some that have managed to get through Israel’s vaunted air defense system.

The Israeli presence here at the Paris Air Show serves as an echo of the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas. That attack coincided with the first day of the annual AUSA conference in DC, where Israeli firms were well represented, with executives already in town.

At the time, very quickly briefings were cancelled and top company officials were recalled home for meetings with the government, and lower-level representatives left early to be with their families. By the last day of AUSA, the Israeli booths were largely staffed by skeleton crews.

There was concern that cancelled flights out of Israel would leave executives with no way to get to Paris, but the country’s three biggest firms, Rafael, IAI and Elbit, now all say they are still planning to present.

A spokesperson for Rafael told Breaking Defense that the company is “going forward with participating at the Paris Air Show, albeit in reduced capacity due to the ongoing security situation in Israel.” The company cancelled a planned press event for Tuesday to talk about its new laser systems, but are still doing small meetings at the conference.

FULL COVERAGE OF THE ISRAEL-IRAN CONFLICT:

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• Israel targets Iranian military leaders, nuclear sites in wave of strikes: IDF
• Houthis have previously used modified Scud missiles to strike Israel: Exclusive analysis
• Iran’s air defenses around Natanz nuclear site more ‘brittle’ than expected: Exclusive analysis

IAI CEO Boaz Levy made it over to Paris and will be doing engagements, according to a schedule of events from the company. A company spokesperson said simply that “IAI will be participating” at the conference. (Rafael and IAI produce the different layers of Israel’s air defense system that’s been engaging Iranian threats.)

An Elbit spokesperson said the company’s plans are moving forward as previously announced. The company previously put out a press release that it “will showcase a broad portfolio of advanced aerospace capabilities, including newly developed solutions designed to meet the evolving operational needs of modern air forces.”

Seth Frantzman in Jerusalem contributed to this report.