From 19 to 21 May 2026, AOC Europe 2026 took place at Messukeskus Helsinki under the central theme “Re-Arming Europe for Electromagnetic Spectrum Superiority”. Europe’s leading conference and trade fair for electronic warfare and electromagnetic spectrum operations brought together experts from the military, defence industry, government authorities and research institutions from across Europe and beyond. Organized by the Association of Old Crows, the event addressed the most pressing challenges in an increasingly contested electromagnetic environment – a direct response to lessons learned from the Russian-Ukrainian war and hybrid threat scenarios facing European nations.

Electronic Warfare in a Multi-Domain Environment

The conference programme accompanying the exhibition also set clear thematic priorities: electronic warfare in multi-domain operations, spectrum management, current threat scenarios, and the growing importance of connectivity and interoperability in modern defence systems dominated the agenda. The conference hall remained consistently well attended, with seating areas densely occupied throughout the event. The strong interest in the sessions and subsequent discussions highlighted both the technical depth and operational relevance of the topics for current and future mission profiles.

The technical discussions focused on the dominance of unmanned platforms on the battlefield, the denial of PNT/GNSS data through electronic interference, and the expanding deployment of networked EW systems. These developments are creating new requirements for NATO and European armed forces. The central question of the conference was: Can Europe innovate fast enough to secure superiority and control within the electromagnetic spectrum?

Why Electronics Manufacturing Is Essential

The solutions presented by exhibitors at AOC Europe – ranging from software-defined radio and jamming systems to integrated sensor networks – demonstrated the central role of highly specialised electronics manufacturing for modern defence systems. Electromagnetic operations require assemblies with extremely demanding specifications in terms of frequency stability, signal integrity, thermal management and electromagnetic compatibility. In addition, these systems must operate reliably under harsh environmental conditions, requiring qualified manufacturing processes in accordance with military and NATO standards.

The complexity of these systems continues to increase: multiband antennas, digital beamforming technologies, AI-supported signal processing and cyber-resilient architectures require not only innovative designs, but also industrial manufacturing capabilities that guarantee the highest levels of precision, traceability and secured supply chains. Without capable EMS partners with defence expertise, the ambitious modernisation goals of European armed forces cannot be achieved.

At the same time, the evolving threat landscape and geopolitical shifts are creating a massive surge in demand. European nations are rearming, NATO members are investing in spectrum dominance, and the demand for European technological sovereignty continues to grow. This means shorter development cycles, scalable production capacities and close cooperation between OEMs and EMS providers already during early development phases (Design-for-Defence, Design-for-Manufacturing).

Incap: The Only EMS Exhibitor at the Event

Against this backdrop, Incap’s presence at AOC Europe 2026 was of particular strategic importance. Incap was the only EMS provider among the exhibitors – a unique position that was directly reflected in the quality and quantity of discussions at the stand. While the exhibition floor overall maintained a highly focused atmosphere, the Incap stand became a central meeting point for networking and discussions surrounding the industrialisation of complex defence electronics.

The Incap team, consisting of Alexander Ostermeier (Business Development Manager Defence, Incap Germany), Ismo Kyllönen (Operations Manager, Incap Estonia), Anita Mäetalu (Sales Service Specialist, Incap Estonia), and Joachim de Buhr (Head of Sales Distribution, Division Connectivity Solutions, Incap Germany), used the event strategically for relationship building and market observation. In addition to numerous contacts from Northern Europe, promising leads with companies from the United Kingdom and the United States were generated and forwarded to the relevant Incap locations. Discussions focused on topics such as Design-for-Defence, secured supply chains, NATO qualification standards, and scaling low-volume production into medium-scale manufacturing.

Among the visitors to the stand was Anthony (Tony) Lisuzzo, current President of the Association of Old Crows and CEO of Ironwave Technologies LLC, a U.S.-based company specialising in electromagnetic operations and defence electronics. During discussions, Lisuzzo highlighted the relevance of the event and emphasised the significantly expanded exhibitor portfolio compared to the previous AOC Europe in Rome.

Quality of Discussions Instead of Visitor Volume

AOC Europe 2026 clearly differed from larger defence exhibitions such as EnforceTac in terms of visitor structure and was characterised by an exclusively professional audience. This concentrated atmosphere enabled highly in-depth discussions and provided ideal conditions for targeted business development.

The international orientation of the event was also reflected in the working approaches of the participants: Northern European and Scandinavian stakeholders in some cases demonstrated different approaches to topics and cooperation models compared to Central European partners. Communication throughout the event was conducted entirely in English, enabling smooth coordination with both European and American discussion partners. The discussions indicated a dynamic market environment and growth potential in specific sectors. Immediate business closures were not the primary focus; instead, the emphasis was on exploring medium-term project opportunities.

Already on the day before the exhibition, the PLATH Intelligence Day provided a successful opening to AOC. The well-attended event was actively used by the Incap team for networking and initial discussions with other exhibitors – an ideal foundation for the exhibition days that followed.

Positioning in a Growing Market

AOC Europe 2026 in Helsinki once again confirmed the central importance of electronics manufacturing for the future viability of European defence systems. As the only EMS provider exhibiting at the event, Incap achieved strategic visibility within a market characterised by growing demand, technological complexity and increasing political pressure to act. The technical depth of the event, its focused atmosphere and international orientation provided ideal conditions for establishing long-term business relationships.

Incap CEO Otto Pukk also visited the stand to gain a comprehensive impression of the event. He acknowledged the success of the Helsinki participation and expressed interest in the next AOC Europe, which will take place in Lisbon, Portugal, from 4 to 6 May 2027.