France reimposes restrictions on Israeli defense firms at Euronaval 2026

France is again imposing restrictions on Israeli defense firms ahead of Euronaval 2026, continuing a policy of limiting Israel's presence at major defense exhibitions.

France has imposed new restrictions on Israeli defense companies ahead of the Euronaval maritime defense exhibition, scheduled to open near Paris on Tuesday, November 3, Defense & Tech learned on Friday.

As preparations continue for Euronaval, the world's largest naval defense exhibition, the French government has informed organizers that it is once again imposing a "clearly defined and highly restrictive framework" on nongovernmental Israeli exhibitors participating in the event, which will be held in Villepinte, near Paris.

The Israeli companies will be restricted from fully displaying “offensive weapons.”

Officials at the Defense Ministry described the measures as part of a systematic policy aimed at excluding Israeli defense technology from the international stage under the guise of political considerations.

Elbit to present underwater drones at Euronaval

Elbit announced on Thursday that it will present its Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (UUV) capabilities at Euronaval for the first time, marking the expansion of the company’s autonomous maritime offering into the underwater domain.

These new capabilities were added to Elbit Systems’ portfolio following the acquisition last week of International Submarine Engineering Ltd. (ISE), a provider of autonomous underwater systems that has delivered more than 250 underwater vehicles to customers in over 20 countries worldwide.

The new UUV solutions will be showcased alongside the company’s Seagull family of Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs) and additional maritime solutions from Elbit Systems’ naval portfolio.

France's history of restrictions on Israeli defense exhibitors

The move marks a continuation of a policy France has pursued for two consecutive years. In October 2024, Israeli companies were initially barred from participating in Euronaval, a decision that was ultimately overturned by a commercial court in Paris.

The same pattern has emerged at other defense exhibitions. At the Eurosatory exhibition in June, France prohibited official Israeli government representation and the establishment of an Israeli national pavilion. Israeli companies were allowed to display only products intended for air defense or protection against ballistic missiles, while displays of offensive weapons were entirely prohibited.

In practice, exhibition organizers went even further, erecting wooden panels to block access to the booths of several Israeli companies, including Smart Shooter, Controp, Aeronautics, and Marom. Some of the booths remained blocked throughout the exhibition.

The policy was most visible at the Paris Air Show in Le Bourget in June 2025, when organizers erected black walls overnight around the booths of Israel Aerospace Industries, Rafael, and Elbit Systems shortly before the exhibition opened.

Ahead of the next Paris Air Show in 2027, Israeli companies have been told they will not receive significant exhibition space, with organizers citing limited availability.