Unmanned & Autonomous Systems Summit

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. 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. The 2026 Summit reflects the rapidly shifting landscape shaping the future force with recent acceleration in autonomous capability development, including new breakthroughs in AI-enabled mission autonomy, advanced loitering munitions, and next-generation drone swarms. Emphasis will be placed on emerging DoW drone guidance, governance frameworks, and operational concepts that align acquisition, doctrine, and force design. Key topics include human-machine teaming, improving operational efficiency across air, land, sea, space, and cyber domains, ensuring unmanned system resilience in contested and denied environments, countering adversary drone swarms, technological innovation, emerging threats and challenges, and evolving policy and acquisition strategies. Attendees can gain education & insight, build partnerships, and influence ideas through interactive sessions.