The 2026 European International Defence and Security Exhibition kicked off in Paris on Monday, showcasing the latest advancements in smart armored vehicles and systematic drone solutions amid rising global security threats.
As a biennial international arms trade fair held at the Paris-Nord Villepinte Exhibition Center, this year's event runs through June 19 and has attracted more than 2,600 exhibitors from 68 countries and regions, bringing together leading defense industry players worldwide.
At the armored vehicle zone, the new-generation main battle tank developed by European defense firm KNDS took center stage. The platform integrates drones and artificial intelligence systems to enable rapid target identification and locking.
Christophe Hesse, director of the Main Battle Tanks Turrets Division at KNDS, noted that for defense manufacturers, this continuous technological upgrade is not just an option, but a necessity driven by the ever-changing nature of modern combat.
"Currently every day there are changes and more threats on the battlefield and therefore also the tank development will not end here and will go on in the future," he said.
Beyond traditional armor, the exhibition also highlighted a major shift in unmanned aerial technology. As drones become increasingly ubiquitous on modern battlefields, defense contractors are no longer just competing on manufacturing individual units. Instead, the focus has shifted to providing comprehensive system solutions, ranging from combat-capable strike and defense drones to training platforms designed to boost operational readiness.
2026 Eurosatory opens in Paris
A joint Sino-Pakistani tire manufacturer debuted on the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Monday, in what market participants called the first listing by a Chinese-invested company on the bourse and a milestone in China-Pakistan industrial and financial integration.
The company, Service Long March Tyres (SLM), is a joint venture between Pakistan's Servis Group and China's Chaoyang Long March Tyre Co., with Chinese shareholders holding about 43 percent of the company before the listing.
SLM is Pakistan's largest maker of all-steel radial tires, with a domestic market share above 55 percent. It is also a key exporter, with products reaching markets including the United States and Brazil.
With this listing, the Chinese-backed company has shattered multiple records on Pakistan's capital market. It raised about 28 million U.S. dollars through its initial public offering. The offering was oversubscribed 16.7 times and fully subscribed in just five seconds -- setting new benchmarks for both the highest subscription amount and the fastest subscription time in the history of the PSX.
Industry insiders from both China and Pakistan see this as a milestone indicating that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has entered a new stage driven by both industrial investment and capital market cooperation.
"This is a milestone for China-Pakistan economic cooperation. The company has come full circle -- from bringing in technology and localizing production capacity to eventually integrating into the capital market. Now, a manufacturing company like this can tap into local Pakistani financing to expand its own production," said You Hang, deputy general manager of China Financial Futures Exchange and Chinese director of the PSX.
"This is in the last two decades the highest fundraise. So it really helps build momentum for the Pakistan Stock Exchange. So, it really adds momentum also to companies who are in a similar bandwagon, meaning JVs (joint ventures) with China in Pakistan," said Farrukh Sabzwari, general manager of the PSX.
First Chinese-funded firm lists on Pakistan bourse, marking milestone
