Aqaba, Oct. 29 (Petra) -- The Special Operations Forces Exhibition and Conference (SOFEX Jordan 2026) has strengthened Jordan’s regional and international standing in defense and security, supported the national defense industry, and expanded opportunities for military and diplomatic cooperation, Director of Military Media Brig. Gen. Mohammad Ali Mehaidat said on Thursday.

Mehaidat made the remarks at a joint press conference marking the exhibition's conclusion, held from Oct. 26 to 29 in Aqaba. Mutaz Al Otain, spokesperson for the Jordan Design and Development Bureau (JODDB), and Col. Hisham Alhnaity, commander of King Abdullah II Special Forces, attended the conference. The officials discussed the event’s main outcomes and its impact on developing defense capabilities and strengthening domestic industries.

Mehaidat said SOFEX served as a strategic platform bringing together military leaders, official delegations and specialized companies to exchange expertise and showcase the latest defense technologies and solutions, opening up wider opportunities for cooperation, technology transfer and the development of national capabilities.

He added that the exhibition’s significance extended beyond displaying equipment and technology, providing a forum for decision-makers, specialists, innovators, and professionals in the defense and technology sectors to build partnerships, exchange knowledge, and explore solutions that contribute to advancing security and defense systems.

Hosting the event, he said, reinforced Jordan’s position as a hub for dialogue and cooperation in defense and security, while creating opportunities to expand ties with friendly and brotherly countries and establish new channels for cooperation, training, and development. These efforts supported defense diplomacy and strengthened the Kingdom’s regional and international profile, he added.

He said holding the exhibition in Aqaba from Oct. 26 to 29 sent a clear message to the world about Jordan’s security, stability, and ability to host international events. He also highlighted Aqaba’s importance as the Kingdom’s only seaport and its economic and investment potential.

On the exhibition’s role in supporting domestic industries, Mehaidat said Jordanian participation provided an opportunity to showcase the capabilities of local defense and technology companies and manufacturers, presenting their products and solutions to military delegations and international companies. This, he said, would help establish partnerships and open new markets for Jordanian products.

The exhibition also provided a suitable environment for cooperation in manufacturing, development, technology transfer, and the acquisition of technical and production expertise, while creating opportunities for exports and investment. Turning networking opportunities into industrial and commercial projects would help domestic companies grow, improve their competitiveness, and create jobs, he added.

Mehaidat stressed the importance of integration between Jordanian companies and the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army through the development of locally produced goods and solutions that meet national requirements, strengthen reliance on Jordanian industrial capabilities, and support modernization and development efforts.

On military capability development, he said the exhibition enabled specialists to examine the latest defense technologies, compare technical solutions, and assess their suitability for operational requirements, supporting modernization efforts and improving performance and readiness.

The technologies on display included communications, command and control, surveillance and reconnaissance systems, protective equipment, personal gear and unmanned systems, as well as artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity and electronic warfare technologies. These offerings created opportunities for training, knowledge exchange, and learning from international experience, he added.

He also emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation and coordination among the armed forces, security agencies, companies, and research and development centers to support maintenance, technical training, knowledge transfer, and the development of local capabilities.

Mehaidat said SOFEX had become increasingly important amid rapidly evolving security and military challenges in the region, changing methods of warfare, and growing demand for stronger capabilities in air defense, countering unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and cybersecurity.

Looking ahead to the next edition in 2028, he said a key feature of this year’s event was the level of integration among academics, national universities, the younger generation, the armed forces particularly special operations forces and the private sector.

He said this integration provided an important foundation for developing national capabilities and promoting innovation. Jordan would seek to build on the achievements of the current edition, broaden participation and cooperation, and deliver an even more advanced event at both the national and international levels, he added.

Mehaidat stressed that SOFEX’s success should not be measured solely by the number of participating companies, military delegations, or announced deals, but by its ability to turn cooperation opportunities into strategic partnerships and practical projects that develop national capabilities, strengthen defense cooperation, and enhance Jordan’s regional and international standing.

Al Otain said the exhibition had witnessed the signing of 15 agreements focused on technology transfer and localization, establishing centers of excellence, and cooperating with international companies to maintain and upgrade various systems.

The agreements also included contracts to supply certain systems and integrate them in cooperation with international companies, as well as memorandums of understanding and partnership arrangements with several partners, he added.

Some agreements were aimed at supporting and empowering startups and innovators, particularly given that a significant share of domestic industry relies on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), Al Otain said.

He explained that JODDB was working to build an integrated defense industry ecosystem in support of the Jordan Armed Forces by assisting SMEs and innovators, developing ideas, and turning them into practical products that meet national needs.

The exhibition also featured innovators, idea developers, and university students, who were given opportunities to present, develop, and promote their innovations to participants from around the world, he added.

As the Jordan Armed Forces' military manufacturing arm, the bureau played a role in supporting startups, advancing innovation and transforming ideas into products that strengthen national industries, Al Otain said.

Regarding the parties that signed agreements, he said they included international companies working with the bureau and its affiliated companies, as well as other companies cooperating directly with the Jordan Armed Forces.

On the exhibition's economic and tourism impact, Al Otain said SOFEX Jordan 2026 attracted around 400 delegations from 75 countries, alongside 350 exhibiting companies from 38 countries and more than 2,000 visitors.

Data collected through the Digital Spider platform, launched by JODDB during the exhibition, recorded more than five million interactions across social media platforms. A large proportion of the comments were positive and praised Jordanian industry, he added.

The participation of international delegations and companies also benefited Aqaba's tourism sector through hotel stays, restaurant visits, and trips to tourist destinations, including Petra and Wadi Rum. This helped stimulate economic activity and spread the benefits of hosting the exhibition across several sectors, he said.

Al Haniti, meanwhile, stressed the importance of keeping pace with technological advances and deploying AI in military and security operations, while emphasizing that human resources remained the foundation of the process.

He said the Jordan Armed Forces was paying increasing attention to AI because of its role in training personnel and officers and its potential to improve military decision-making.

Technological advances also presented future challenges, particularly in cybersecurity, he added, stressing the importance of drawing on international experience, best practices, and modern technologies while strengthening cooperation with partners to address shared challenges.

Regarding the Special Operations Forces Commanders Conference, held over three days with commanders and delegations from 75 countries, Al Haniti said the region needed more than ever to strengthen stability and exchange ideas and expertise to help address common challenges.

SOFEX is a specialized exhibition and conference that brings together military and security organizations and companies operating in the defense and technology industries to exchange expertise, showcase the latest technologies, and establish partnerships between domestic institutions and their international counterparts.

//Petra// AF