This year, the Michigan Defense Expo (MDEX) is co-located with XPONENTIAL 2026, bringing together the full autonomy ecosystem and the defense innovation community in one powerful venue in Detroit, May 11–14, 2026.
MDEX, hosted by NDIA’s Michigan Chapter, is one of the premier defense industry events, bringing together DoD buyers, prime contractors, small businesses, and academic partners. Attendees gain direct access to government briefings, industry exhibits, and one-on-one matchmaking with military and procurement leaders. Partnering with MDEX provides unparalleled visibility and connections across the defense supply chain, making it a powerful platform for growth and collaboration.
This co-location marks a powerful alignment of two complementary ecosystems. XPONENTIAL attendees gain:
- Expanded reach into additional defense and government circles.
- Deeper, purpose-driven networking opportunities.
- Enhanced program relevance with broadened defense-informed content.
By uniting autonomy and defense in Detroit, it not just amplifies innovation, it reshapes how industries connect to drive the future of uncrewed systems.
