Unmanned & Autonomous Systems Summit 2026

A New Era of Unmanned Systems for Sustained Total Force Lethality

April 8-9, 2026 - Washington, DC, United States

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. With recent acceleration in autonomous capability development, including new breakthroughs in AI-enabled mission autonomy, advanced loitering munitions, and next-generation drone swarms, this year’s Summit reflects the rapidly shifting landscape shaping the future force.

Topics to be Covered

  • Sustaining Naval Lethality Through Deliverance of Next-Gen Unmanned Aircraft and Weapons Systems
  • American Air Superiority: Defense–Industrial Acceleration in Uncrewed Systems
  • Commanding the Future Fight: Combatant Command Strategy for Autonomous Capabilities
  • Accelerating Secure UAS Adoption: A DIU–DCMA Joint Briefing on Blue UAS List
  • Autonomy Unleashed: Emerging Systems for the Modern Warfighter and Tomorrow’s Battlefield
  • Adapting to the Threat: Counter-UAS in Multi-Domain Operations
  • The Collaborative Combat Aircraft Programme: Engineering the Future of Air Force Unmanned Capabilities

Why You Should Attend this Summit

In FY2026, the Department of War is directing more than USD 13 billion toward the modernization, development, and integration of unmanned and autonomous systems. Confronted with a rapidly evolving threat landscape and technologically sophisticated adversaries, the Department and the Military Services are accelerating the fielding of innovative unmanned and autonomous capabilities to strengthen operational reach, enhance battlespace awareness, increase tactical adaptability, and mitigate risk to Warfighters. 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 on the future all-domain battlefield.

The 2026 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. With recent acceleration in autonomous capability development, including new breakthroughs in AI-enabled mission autonomy, advanced loitering munitions, and next-generation drone swarms, this year’s Summit reflects the rapidly shifting landscape shaping the future force.

DoW and the Military Services are rapidly expanding the utilization and integration of cutting-edge unmanned and autonomous systems into military operations to counter modernizing adversaries, enhance multi-domain coordination, increase operational reach, improve situational awareness, and reduce risk to the Warfighter. The event will focus on several key topics including human-machine teaming, improving operational efficiency across air, land, and sea, ensuring unmanned system resilience in contested and denied environments, the latest in technological innovation, emerging threats and challenges, and evolving policy and acquisition strategies. The Summit will also feature panels on American industrial acceleration of uncrewed systems, joint efforts across combatant commands, C-UAS strategies, and emerging technology in unmanned systems. Attendees at the 2026 Unmanned & Autonomous Systems Summit will have the unique opportunity to explore the strategies, technologies, and modernization priorities critical to developing and delivering unmanned systems to the Warfighter.

The team specializes in the extensive research and development of our Summit’s content and focus areas, and we will assemble the most respected minds in unmanned and autonomous systems as well as key policy makers across military and civilian offices. Our non-partisan approach allows us to reach across all services and organizations to bring together a truly holistic group of decision-makers and solution providers.

At Our Summit You Have the Ability To

  • Gain Education & Insight: Walk away with knowledge gained from our senior level speakers on some of the complex challenges facing DoD and Military Services.
  • Build Partnerships:The agenda is designed to allow for ample networking opportunities and the ability to engage in constructive dialogues among all in attendance
  • Influence: Help foster ideas! Share your own insight and knowledge during our interactive sessions. All attendees are encouraged to address our speaker faculty and each other with their questions, comments or ideas.

Sponsors & Exhibitors

The 2026 Unmanned & Autonomous Systems Summit provides opportunities for exhibit space, round table discussions, product demonstrations, luncheon, and cocktail receptions.
Contact us for sponsorship information

2026 Early Confirmed Speakers Include

  • Dr. Sunshine Smith-Carroll – SES, PTDO Deputy Assistant Secretary of War for Platform and Weapon Portfolio Management, OSW A&S
  • BG Cain Baker, USA, Director, Aviation Future Capability Directorate, FCC, T2COM
  • Rebecca Gassler, Program Acquisition Executive, Robotics and Autonomous Systems, Dept of the Navy
  • Thomas Lawhead – Deputy Chief of Staff, Strategy, Integration and Requirements, Headquarters USAF
  • COL Ken Bernier, USA, Program Manager, Autonomous Robotics Capabilities, CPE Mission Autonomy
  • COL John Peterson – USA, Director, Joint C-sUAS University
  • Thomas “TJ” Goulter, Executive Director, 96th Test Wing, Air Force Test Center
  • Lt Col Jonathan Gilbert – USAF, Division Chief, AFWERX Prime
  • VADM (Ret) Roy Kitchener – USN, Former Commander, Naval Surface Force, US Pacific Fleet
  • CAPT (Ret) Colin Corridan – USN, Former Director, USN Disruptive Capabilities Office
  • Dr. James Bellingham – Bloomberg Distinguished Professor of Exploration Robotics & Executive Director, John Hopkins Institute for Assured Autonomy
  • Austin Phoenix – Director, Mission Systems Division, National Security Institute, Virginia Tech

Please fill in your name and email to receive the Summit Agenda of this event.

Venue

American Institute of Architects National HQ
1735 New York Ave NW, 20005
Washington, DC

Parking Details
Parking details will be provided to registrants one week before the event in the “Event Logistics” e-mail.

Nearby Hotels
Canopy by Hilton Washington DC Embassy Row
1600 Rhode Island Avenue NW, Washington DC | 0.2 mi to venue
check availability

The Westin Washington, D.C. City Center
1427 M St NW, Washington, DC | 0.1 mi to venue
check availability

The Washington Plaza Hotel
Wylie Mansion, 10 Thomas Cir NW, Washington, DC | 0.2 mi to venue
check availability
Event details
Organizer :DSI
Event type :Conference
Attendance :Physical Event
Reference :ASDE-25915