Programme

Transforming Britain’s Existing Infrastructure into the Nation’s First Line of Defence

Across three keynotes, the C-UAS Strategy Forum examines whether the infrastructure Britain already has, from telecoms networks to CCTV, transport systems and utility assets, can become a nationwide sensor network for airspace awareness. The discussion centres on how fragmented data can be fused into a single recognised air picture, where human judgement must remain as AI accelerates decision-making, and how government and private sector investment can combine to deliver national capability at pace.

Keynote 1: The Strategic Mandate: Dual-Use Technology and Britain’s Airspace Security Imperative

The rapid evolution of drones is reshaping the security environment, from the battlefield to critical national infrastructure and public spaces. This session examines the strategic imperative for the UK to accelerate its adoption of dual-use technologies and build a more integrated approach to airspace security. Drawing on perspectives from senior military leaders, defence technology innovators and frontline experience from Ukraine, the discussion will explore how emerging threats are changing defence requirements, what lessons can be transferred from conflict to homeland security, and how government, industry and operators can work together to accelerate innovation, strengthen resilience and deliver effective counter-UAS capability at scale.

Keynote 2: Delivering the Mandate: AI, Networks and the Future of Low-Altitude Security

The rapid evolution of drones is reshaping the security environment, from the battlefield to critical national infrastructure and public spaces. This session examines the strategic imperative for the UK to accelerate its adoption of dual-use technologies and build a more integrated approach to airspace security. Drawing on perspectives from senior military leaders, defence technology innovators and frontline experience from Ukraine, the discussion will explore how emerging threats are changing defence requirements, what lessons can be transferred from conflict to homeland security, and how government, industry and operators can work together to accelerate innovation, strengthen resilience and deliver effective counter-UAS capability at scale.

Keynote 3: From Strategy to Delivery: Next steps, partnerships, collaboration, capital and supply chain

Turning counter-UAS ambition into deployable capability requires more than technology alone. Drawing on observations and lessons from the conflict in Ukraine, where rapid innovation, battlefield adaptation and the ability to deploy solutions at pace have become critical, this session explores the partnerships, investment and supply chains needed to move promising technologies from innovation to procurement, deployment and scale. Bringing together perspectives from the innovation ecosystem and investment community, the discussion will examine how established industry can work more effectively with emerging technology companies, how capital can accelerate growth, and how barriers to adoption can be overcome. It will consider how we can accelerate innovation cycles and strengthen collaboration between government, industry and investors, while building a resilient domestic ecosystem capable of delivering at pace, strengthening sovereign capability and competing in a rapidly expanding global market.

Agenda

Additional speakers will be announced in the coming weeks—please check back for updates.

Tuesday, 27 October