The Paris Air Show, one of the world's largest and most influential aviation and defense events, is scheduled to take place from June 16-22, 2025, at Le Bourget Airport near Paris. This annual summit brings together the entire aviation industry spectrum – from civil aviation companies to aircraft manufacturers, weapons systems, drone producers, and advanced startups in air transportation and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM).
However, alongside the anticipation and opportunity, this year's show comes with particularly heightened tension regarding Israeli defense companies' participation – and even visits by Israeli aircrew members – against the backdrop of growing political pressure in Europe.
As of April 2025, Israeli defense industries are officially permitted to participate by the show's organizers. Companies such as Israel Aerospace Industries, Elbit Systems, Rafael, and others are expected to showcase cutting-edge technologies, including interception systems, tactical drones, intelligence aircraft, precision missiles, and more.
Nevertheless, there is genuine concern that the public and political pressure that led to the exclusion of Israeli companies from the Eurosatory exhibition in 2024 (which were eventually reinstated by order of the French court) and the repeated attempts to prevent Israeli companies from participating in the Euronaval maritime exhibition held in October of that year – rejected again by the Paris Commercial Court – will repeat themselves. Pro-Palestinian groups, some with political backing from the extreme left in Europe, have begun applying pressure to cancel Israeli companies' participation, claiming "human rights violations" during military operations in Gaza and the West Bank.
In 2024, weeks before the Eurosatory defense exhibition in Paris, a French government decision banned any industrial entity from Israel from participating. This move sparked protests in Israel, anger in the defense industry, and even disappointment among European partners. While a similar decision regarding the Air Show is not currently expected, concerns remain, especially given the escalation in political discourse and rising antisemitism in Europe since early 2024. Relations with French President Emmanuel Macron are also tense on a personal level, and it's uncertain how he might react and whether he will attempt to repeat the actions taken before Eurosatory and Euronaval last year.
The companies aren't the only ones concerned. Professional visitors, defense industry personnel, and even Israeli pilots and aircrew members planning to visit the exhibition, whether in civilian capacity or as part of professional delegations, are raising concerns about potential discomfort at airports, as has happened in Europe in recent years to high-ranking Israeli officers.
The chairman of the Israeli Pilots Association, Captain Meidan Barr, expressed optimism instead: "The long-standing partnership between us and the French industries is strong, and I'm not worried that it will be harmed. In fact, the events surrounding Eurosatory and Euronaval prove that attempts to restrict us did not succeed and were stopped by the French justice system. There's no reason why this should be any different this time."
Although the French government has not yet declared any official restrictions, campaigns to boycott Israeli representatives maintain a strong public presence on social media and among local activists. Security services in Western European countries have previously warned of attempts to "politicize" professional exhibitions, and concerns grow that the show could become an arena for media confrontations and demonstrations.
Despite these challenges, the Air Show continues to be a significant platform for business opportunities and international connections. In 2023 alone, deals worth over $150 billion were closed during the exhibition, including large contracts between countries, private companies, and small suppliers.
For Israel, the show serves as a platform to showcase Israeli defense and civilian innovation, especially in unmanned systems, AI solutions for aerial intelligence, advanced navigation systems, and electronic warfare. Demand for Israeli military systems has grown significantly during the war, thanks to the impressive proven capabilities of systems such as Iron Dome and Arrow.
In civil aviation, Israel also has much to offer, such as the conversion of 777 aircraft to cargo planes, an area where Israel Aerospace Industries is a world pioneer. The show also allows exposure of technologies to potential customers from Asia, South America, and Africa, regions where demand for Israeli systems is rising. This is a particularly important opportunity during this period, when many professionals and tourists avoid traveling to Israel due to the war and security tensions.
The 2025 Air Show may redefine Israel's standing in the international aviation and security arena. As professional events become increasingly politicized, participation in such exhibitions becomes not just a technological or marketing matter, but also a political statement.
Israel's main challenge is to maintain its international presence while standing firm against political pressures, maintaining direct contact with host countries, coordinating with local security agencies, and being prepared to address criticism intelligently.
