Land Forces is a beacon of change in the middle of the dynamic defence environment in Australia that has seen innovation meet national security. In a world increasingly shaped by Indo-Pacific complexities, gatherings such as the Land Forces unite the most brilliant, emerging technologies and strategic alliances that protect our shores and enhance our economy. You can be a defence fanatic, an industry expert, or a curious Australian who wants to know “what are Land Forces?”, but no matter how you look at it, this expo is not about tanks and tactics; it is about coming up with a force ready to meet the demands of the future to guard our way of life. It drew record crowds in 2024 and is looking at 2026, so it is time to dive into this giant event and change the face of land defence in Australia.
What Are Land Forces? Understanding Australia’s Ground Powerhouses
Fundamentally, the term “land forces” is used to describe the military force on the ground, which is the root element of the Australian defence policy. This would involve the Australian Army, which is the main land warfare component of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). The Army, which consists of approximately 30,000 people, including regular troops, reserves, and specialists, provides expeditionary, multi-purpose power in the form of mechanised infantry, armoured brigades, as well as special operations forces. Whether it is patrolling our expansive northern borders or being stationed in combined missions overseas, these forces will make sure we are able to react quickly to any kind of threat, be it natural catastrophes such as the 2022 floods or an international crisis.
“But Land Forces with a capital L?” It is the abbreviated version of the International Land Defence Exposition- a biennial giant show that has become synonymous with the innovation of the Australian defence. It has been held semi-annually since 1998, attracting more than 12,000 visitors representing over 30 countries and presenting everything on the one hand to Bushmaster protected mobility vehicles (manufactured, of course, right here in Bendigo, Victoria) to AI-controlled drones and quantum technology. Not only an expo, it is also a strategic event, where the ADF, international primes such as Lockheed Martin, and local SMEs finalise agreements worth billions of dollars, to give jobs and export success to the Aussie companies.
Why does this matter to ordinary Australians? In a place where temperatures run high, despite the South China Sea wrangles and climate-related turmoil, the presence of well-organised land forces translates to a better and secure country. The recent Defence Strategic Review has emphasised the importance of “accelerated preparedness”, and activities such as this bring it to life via the transformation of R&D to tangible solutions.
The Land Forces Expo: What It Is and Why It’s a Big Deal
Picture this: With more than 995 exhibitors representing 31 nations, the Convention and Exhibition Centre in Melbourne was crowded with glittering prototypes, simulations and networking on a high-stakes level. It is the Land Forces Expo in action- the largest land defence exhibition in the region, with a mix of exhibition floor, professional conferences, and pitching of innovations. Arranged by the AMDA Foundation with the support of the Australian Army, it is a whirlwind of three days, 11-13 September 202,4, which raised over $65 million for the economy of Victoria alone.
What sets it apart? It is more industry-oriented, and is by invitation only to the experts in defence, government and academia–there is no registration for common people, but visitors are under consideration as long as they are qualified to do so. The Chief of Army Symposium (CAS), during which the leaders address the issue of “The Human Face of Battle” or the Army Innovation Day, as well as the Quantum Technology Challenge, are highlights. The presence of Aussie stars such as Hanwha Defence Australia (constructing our AS9 howitzers) and local innovators who went to the awards rounds of up to $120,000 is the talk of the town. It was gold to the exhibitors: 718 companies in 2022 alone created deals, including unmanned ground vehicles and cyber-resilient command systems.
Specific to the Aussies, the expo features sovereign manufacturing – imagine the Bushmasters rolling off Victorian lines in Thales or Deakin University teaming with Hanwha on the state-of-the-art artillery. It is a reminder that our defence dollar remains at home, delivering 570+ businesses in Victoria and opening the door to exports.
A Timeline of Land Forces: Dates, Locations, and Evolution
Wondering “when is Land Forces?”, or “where is Land Forces 2024?” The roadshow program here is as follows:
| Year | Dates | Location | Key highlights |
| 2022 | 4-6 October | Brisbane Convention Centre | Record 12,766 attendees; focus on Indo-Pacific partnerships. |
| 2024 | 11-13 September | Melbourne Convention Centre | Largest ever—995 exhibitors, CAS integration, $65M economic boost. |
| 2026 | 6-8 October | Perth Convention Centre | Debut in WA; emphasis on Western defence hub, with Army symposia. |
Conducted every two years, to be close to the priorities of ADF, it switches cities to enhance regional advantages: Brisbane as the logistics centre, Melbourne as the manufacturing hub, Perth as the strategic projection centre. There is no 2025 edition; the next is Perth ’26, which is assuring even larger international delegations.
Exhibitors and Innovation: Who’s Shaping Australia’s Land Forces?
The list of exhibitors in 2024 was a roll call of defence: 995 companies with such USA Partnership Pavilion stars as BAE Systems (unmanned vehicles), DefendTex (drones) and domestic ones as SPEE3D (3D metal printing for rapid prototyping). More than 70 conferences were devoted to hot subjects such as littoral operations, quantum warfare, and such innovations as RQ-7B Shadow UAVs and JIM Compact sniper systems were on display.
It is a job creator for the Aussies, with hundreds of jobs alone being eyed by the Hanwha-Deakin MOU. Want the full list? See the official list of such gems as VR sims of LEAP Australia or ADF sniper technology of Safran Electronics.
Disrupt Land Forces: The 2024 Protests and Broader Debates
Land Forces protest can never be spoken of without mentioning “Land Forces protest”– the elephant in the expo hall. In September 2024, Disrupt Land Forces (a coalition of 50+ groups) held a rally against the “weapons expo” by chaining themselves to the entrances, marching the CBD streets and blocking VIPs. Shouts of “Free Palestine” were heard amidst fights, and the police used foam baton rounds, OC spray, and flashbangs – attracting 110 arrests, allegations of police brutality by Melbourne Activist Legal Support.
The goal of the organisers was to “encircle and shut down” the event, highlighting the links between arms and wars such as Gaza. It was billed as the largest operation conducted by Victoria Police since 2000, which incurred a cost of $10M+, but was criticised by some, such as Amnesty International, who decried “riot-type” tactics. While disruptive, causing hours-long delays, it increased the voices of anti-militarism around the globe, even affecting the post-event stop on the Israeli military deals in Victoria.
This conflict points to a breach: proponents of boosters celebrate Land Forces as a source of security and employment; critics regard it as a contributor to the “genocide profiteering” business. Balanced view? This is brought to the fore by protests, which demanded ethical questioning in defence and advocated open, human-oriented procurement.
Looking Ahead: Land Forces 2026 in Perth and Beyond
Looking forward to 2026: hosted in Perth between 6-8 October, this showcases the strategic prowess of WA with increased pavilions of SMEs and allies. Assume more amphibious operations and extended fires, which are consistent with the 2024 Integrated Investment Program of ADF (9.9B land operational capability).
Registrations open soon through landforces.com.au -business dress code, under 16s not allowed. Exhibitors, this is your opportunity to secure sovereign contracts.
To conclude, Land Forces is not merely an expo; it is the heartbeat of land defence in Australia, a combination of innovativeness, cost-effectiveness, and security. It makes us prepared to meet the needs of tomorrow, whether it is Army diggers in the NT or expo halls in Melbourne. Keen to engage? Subscribe to 2026, news of updates on ADF, or participate in the ethical defence chat. How about our future armed forces? Share your thoughts below, let’s shape the future of Australia’s land forces together.
