Sector Highlight: Aerospace & Defense - Building the Runway for 2026 and Beyond
Written by Dan Ryan, Defense & Aerospace Advisor
MIBA’s work in aerospace and defense reached an important inflection point in 2025—not as a finish line, but as the foundation for what comes next. More than 300 strategic connections, six Israel defense companies joining the Elevator, and a joint MIBA–SIBAT presence at the Michigan Defense Expo (MDEX) collectively strengthened Michigan’s position as a credible U.S. landing zone for advanced Israeli defense technologies. The State of Michigan’s grant award to Capture Systems, supporting the company’s decision to locate its global Counter-UAS headquarters in Michigan, underscored what this momentum makes possible: real investment, real jobs, and long-term anchoring of global capability in the state. With Capture Systems and two of Israel’s most prominent defense companies establishing operations in the state, Michigan is quickly becoming a hub for Israeli innovation in the industry.
In 2026, our goal is not only to exceed 2025’s connection and Elevator membership milestones, but to deepen the quality of those relationships—moving companies faster from market entry to partnerships, pilots, and U.S. headquarters decisions. Each successful expansion increases Michigan’s relevance to global defense innovators and strengthens the state’s role in next-generation aerospace and security systems.
That future focus is already taking shape through MIBA’s engagement with CET Sandbox—an investor network dedicated to Critical Emerging Technologies. CET’s plan to bring a delegation of more than 20 early-stage Israeli aerospace and defense startups to Michigan during MDEX 2026 creates a unique opportunity to engage companies at the very beginning of their U.S. market journey. By pairing MDEX exposure with curated introductions to prime contractors such as BAE Systems and GDLS, and technical discussions with GVSC experts on emerging land-vehicle requirements, MIBA is positioning Michigan as both a customer and a co-developer of next-generation solutions.
The strategy is simple and deliberate: meet innovators earlier, show them Michigan’s technical depth and supply-chain strength, and help them envision long-term growth here—not just initial entry. The successes of 2025 proved the model. The work underway now is about scale, durability, and leadership—ensuring that in 2026 and beyond, Michigan is not just participating in the future of aerospace and defense innovation, but helping shape it.
