The U.S. Business Development Mission is a support program offered by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) for German companies that provide technologies and solutions in the defense industry and are interested in expanding their business into the U.S. market. It is part of the “Security and Defense Industry” export initiative and is carried out under the Market Development Program for SMEs. The target group consists primarily of small and medium-sized German companies.
Products in the fields of sensor technology, electronics, cybersecurity, unmanned systems and drones, defense technology, communication technologies, aerospace systems, as well as innovative materials and manufacturing technologies for military applications are in particularly high demand.
The focus is on establishing concrete business contacts with potential U.S. business partners. The funded project includes a business trip to Washington, D.C., and Huntsville, AL.
The project is being carried out by the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Washington, DC, and the German American Chamber of Commerce of the Southern USA in cooperation with SBS systems for business solutions GmbH. Technical support for the project is provided by German industry partners such as the BDSV, the BDLI, and UAV DACH.
Through this project, the BMWE supports German companies in their international business activities by helping them establish and expand business contacts in the United States. The business development initiative aims to identify market opportunities and lay the groundwork for long-term sales potential for German companies in the sector.
Thirteen German companies will participate in the business development trip.
Participating companies
Target Market Analysis
To help them prepare, participants will attend a target market webinar where they will receive industry-specific information on market potential, trends, and risks; concrete guidance on distribution channels; insights into practical business and intercultural considerations; and information on relevant networks in the United States. This information will be summarized in a clear and concise handout.
Country Briefing
During a country briefing in the U.S., you will gain valuable, in-depth knowledge about the target market and industry-specific characteristics, as well as details regarding the organizational logistics of the trip. The speakers include industry and country experts from German diplomatic missions abroad, the German-American Chamber of Commerce (AHK), and the German Foreign Trade Information Agency (GTAI), as well as local experts and representatives of German companies operating in the target country.
Pitch & Networking Event
During a presentation event, you will have the opportunity to showcase your products and services to high-ranking local representatives from companies, research institutions, trade associations, and other organizations, and to hold follow-up meetings with the international participants.
Company Presentation
Customized on-site business meetings with potential U.S. business partners (customers, distributors, partners, end users, government agencies, etc.). Your specific expectations regarding these international business contacts will be systematically identified in advance through direct communication with you.
New Business Contacts
The AHK USA is your local German-speaking contact. It handles your scheduling, facilitates communication between all parties, accompanies you as a participant to meetings, and acts as an interpreter or moderator as needed.
Group Visits
Group tours at the headquarters of potential clients, either on-site or at selected institutions and showcase properties, offer you the opportunity to expand your network and establish relevant contacts in the United States.
PROGRAM
Day 1 – Sunday– 05.17.2026 – Washington, DC
Individual Arrivals
Day 2 – Monday – 05.18.2026
Morning | Briefing
Afternoon| Individual company and group visits
Day 3 – Tuesday – 05.19.2026
Morning| Company tour in Northern Virginia
Afternoon| Individual B2B and Group visits
Day 4 - Wednesday – 05.20.2026
Morning| Group meetings in Northern Virginia
Afternoon| Travel to Huntsville, AL
Late afternoon | Market briefing in Huntsville, AL
Day 5 – Thursday – 05.21.2026
Whole day| Company tours in Huntsville, AL
Whole day| Individual company and group visits
Day 6 – Friday – 05.22.2026
Whole day | Individual company and group visits
Late afternoon | Final bilateral meetings and individual departures
Market Information
The United States has the world’s largest defense industry, with annual military spending of approximately one trillion U.S. dollars, accounting for about 37 percent of global defense spending. It combines political leadership, highly innovative research and development, and enormous industrial capacity. The defense sector is currently undergoing a phase of profound technological and political transformation, in which modernization and innovation are clearly at the forefront. This opens up a wide range of business opportunities for German companies. Washington, D.C., and the neighboring region of Northern Virginia form the strategic heart of the defense industry: This is where security policy decisions are made, budgets are allocated, and procurement priorities are set—while at the same time numerous leading contractors, technology companies, and think tanks are based there. Many of the most significant U.S. defense companies have headquarters or major branches in Northern Virginia, including global market leaders such as Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems. Huntsville, Alabama, represents the technical and industrial implementation of these policy objectives. The city is considered one of the most productive innovation hubs in the United States in the defense and aerospace sectors, characterized by a strong industrial base, highly specialized research institutions, and significant military infrastructure, including companies such as Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and Raytheon.
Opportunities for German Companies
The U.S. defense sector is undergoing a period of profound technological and strategic transformation, characterized by modernization, digitalization, and the development of resilient supply chains. This opens up a significant and growing range of business opportunities for German companies—provided they increase their visibility, strengthen their local market presence, and position themselves as reliable partners with high technological capabilities.
Solutions are particularly in demand in the fields of sensor technology, electronics, cybersecurity, unmanned systems and drones, defense technology, communication technologies, aerospace systems, and innovative materials and manufacturing technologies for military applications.
These capabilities align directly with current U.S. priorities in procurement and modernization, creating concrete opportunities for cooperation, R&D partnerships, and market entry. The business development trip therefore offers German companies targeted access to relevant decision-makers, programs, and industry partners in the U.S.—and thus an ideal platform to position themselves early on in a dynamic and growing market.