RAeS Future Air and Space Defence Summit

Conference Details

Date: 20 May 2026

Time: 08:30

Duration: 2 days

Location: London, United Kingdom

Cost: £ 195 - £ 515

Organiser: RAeS - Royal Aeronautical Society

Conference Website

Conference Description

RAeS Future Air and Space Defence Summit - where air, space and tech leaders meet to define the next generation of defence advantage

Join us for the 4^th edition of the Royal Aeronautical Society's flagship defence conference, the RAeS Future Air and Space Defence Summit, which will take place on 20-21 May 2026 at our HQ in London.

The global defence and security landscape is undergoing a deep transformation, driven by shifting geopolitical dynamics and an urgent need for an accelerated pace of technological innovation. As the United Kingdom and its European partners balance a renewed commitment to the NATO alliance with a drive for greater European industrial autonomy, the UK government’s pledge to increase UK defence spending signals a major shift in national priorities. As the 2025 Strategic Defence Review and Defence Industrial Strategy highlight the ‘need to reform procurement, innovate at wartime pace, and grow the UK’s industrial base’ to face new threats, the UK is entering a new era of defence.

As in previous years, the 2026 RAeS Defence Summit will bring together UK and international defence experts to examine the UK's position as a global aerospace defence leader. This two-day in-person only high-level conference will explore the most pressing issues facing the sector today, including the convergence of geopolitical strategy and emerging technologies; strengthening defence capabilities and supply chain resilience, and maintaining sovereign capabilities in key areas like aircraft design, development, and manufacturing. By addressing these priorities, the UK can safeguard its long-term security and prosperity in an ever-changing world.