International Maritime Defence Exhibition And Conference 2025

The Internation Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference 2025 (IMDEX 2025) marked the 14th iteration of the exhibition. Being held at Changi Exhibition Centre between the 6th to 8th May 2025, IMDEX 2025 saw the attendance of over 12,500 people from more than 70 countries. This iteration of IMDEX featured more than 230 companies from 26 countries and placed a heavy emphasis on smart systems, namely advancements in uncrewed systems and artificial intelligence.

At the core of IMDEX 2025 was the International Maritime Security Conference (IMSC). The IMSC is a conference that brought together 56 VIP groups, namely Navy Chiefs, Cost Guard Directors, and other high-ranking officials, to discuss global naval threats such as piracy, smuggling, and territorial disputes. IMSC also covered topics such as how AI alongside uncrewed systems can help to bolster patrol and surveillance efforts.

Gobal defence spending reached an estimated US $2.46 trillion in 2024. The market for seaborne digital systems is valued at an estimated US $175 billion in 2023, with compounded annual growth to be at 8.5% over the next decade. Furthermore, when comparing to 2022, research and development budgets saw an increase of 8.3%, with Asia funding almost half of all maritime research efforts.

Defence companies such as Lockheed Martin, Leonardo, and IAI returned this year with new companies such as Shield AI and Unseenlabs debuing at IMDEX 2025 for the first time. Visitors had the opportunity of radar demonstrations and secure communication tools. This aligns with Experia’s focus on the growing role of AI and uncrewed systems in the evolving defence landscape.

IMDEX 2025 also featured a dedicated Uncrewed Systems Zone for companies to showcase surface drones, underwater gliders, as well as vertical take-off drones from companies such as Avetics and Seadronix. 

The What's Next challenge featured startups from around the world. FibreCoat, a German company, demonstrated strong fibre coatings. Greentide, an Australian company, provided biodegradable training targets. Singaporean teams, including Kookree and MicroSec, demonstrated simple video-analysis tools as well as maritime cybersecurity.

Six universities played a part in the Maritime Campus initiative, with Embry-Riddle hosting the Innovation Hangar Challenge, while The Singapore Institute of Technology showcased Project MAKO, a human-powered submarine. SUTD presented ideas for marine sensors and underwater movement based on sea creatures.

Seventeen ships from 13 countries were in attendance at this year’s IMDEX. Ships such as the HMAS Arunta, the USS Dewey and the HMS Spey allowed delegates to tour onboard systems and see engine upgrades up close.

IMDEX Asia 2025 has once again proved to be a critical platform for the exchange of ideas and innovations between policymakers and the defence industry.