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Unmanned & Autonomous Systems Summit
March 9, 2026 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm EDT
April 8 - 9, 2026 | Washington D.C.
American Institute of Architects
1735 New York Avenue, NW | Washington, D.C. 20006
The 14th Annual Unmanned & Autonomous Systems Summit brings together key experts, decision-makers, and innovators from the DoW, Military Services, Industry, and Academia for in-depth discussions on advancements and innovations in unmanned and autonomous technologies essential for the future of military defense and mission success in all combat environments. As the battlespace becomes increasingly defined by drone dominance and the ability to produce, maneuver, and sustain uncrewed systems at scale, this Summit will examine how the DoW is shaping comprehensive drone guidance to ensure operational superiority, responsible integration, and strategic deterrence.
About the 2026 Unmanned & Autonomous Systems Summit
TOPICS TO BE COVERED
- Sustaining Naval Lethality Through Deliverance of Next-Gen Unmanned Aircraft and Weapons Systems
- Commanding the Future Fight: Combatant Command Strategy for Autonomous Capabilities
- Autonomy Unleashed: Emerging Systems for the Modern Warfighter and Tomorrow’s Battlefield
- Leading Unmanned Drone Innovation Through the Rapid Employment Joint Task Force
- American Air Superiority: Defense–Industrial Acceleration in Uncrewed Systems
- Accelerating Secure UAS Adoption: A DIU–DCMA Joint Briefing on Blue UAS List
- Adapting to the Threat: Counter-UAS in Multi-Domain Operations
WHY YOU SHOULD ATTEND THIS SUMMIT
In FY2026, the Department of War is directing more than USD 13 billion toward the modernization, development, integration, and scaling of unmanned and autonomous systems to ensure drone dominance across contested environments. Confronted with a rapidly evolving threat landscape and technologically sophisticated adversaries, the DoW and the Military Services are accelerating the fielding of innovative unmanned and autonomous capabilities, across air, land, maritime, space, and cyber domains, to strengthen operational reach, enhance battlespace awareness, enable resilient and mass, increase tactical adaptability, and mitigate risk to Warfighters. Through focused investments in autonomy, AI-enabled swarming, counter-UAS, and rapid acquisition pathways, the DoW is advancing a comprehensive approach to maintaining superiority in unmanned systems and denying adversary freedom of maneuver. Attendees will hear from leaders and practitioners across the unmanned and autonomous systems enterprise, gaining forward-looking insights into the continued advancement and operationalization of technologies that will underpin Joint Force advantage and sustained drone dominance on the future all-domain battlefield.
