Apex Defense 2026

Watch the conversations had at Apex Defense 2026 in Washington D.C.

Covering topics including sustaining forces, contested EMS, improving interoperability and much more. Plus keynote and panel sessions delivered by pivotal voices in the ecosystem.


 

 

Keynote Conversation with Admiral Daryl Caudle, Chief of Naval Operations, U.S. Navy

 

Keynote Address with Hon. Michael P. Duffey, Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment, Office of the Under Secretary of War

 

Operational Problem A: Sustaining forces in a contested and dispersed theatre of operations

  • Survivable or attritable logistics platforms
  • Operationalising advanced manufacturing at the tactical edge
  • Assured command and control of logistic network nodes

 

Operational Problem B: Advancing interoperability and integration of autonomous systems for multi-domain operations

  • Enabling ad-hoc interoperability between disparate systems
  • Synchronizing cross-domain command and control
  • Managing cyber and EW threats

 

Operational Problem C: Detecting, identifying and defeating low-cost, rapidly proliferating UxS threats to infrastructure, personnel and manoeuvre force

  • Detection and discrimination of small, low signature threats
  • Balancing layered and cost-effective defeat mechanisms
  • Attritable and mobile C-UxS capabilities

 

Operational Problem D: Gaining an edge and winning autonomous warfare

  • Using autonomous systems for control rather than just denial
  • Sustaining autonomous system operations
  • Improving autonomous system lethality and reliability

 

Operational Problem E: Generating combat power inside the enemy's weapons engagement zone

  • Equipping and fielding edge/stand-in forces/mission area 1 forces in contested environments
  • C3 of forces in highly contested environments
  • Use of concealment, camouflage, deception, and EW to survive inside the WEZ

 

Operational Problem F: Countering against next-gen undersea threats and protecting critical infrastructure

  • Detection and defeat of autonomous undersea vehicles
  • Surveillance and protection of deep-sea infrastructure
  • Using the seabed for military advantage

 

Operational Problem G: Fighting in a contested EMS and retaining access to space-based capabilities

  • Spectrum management in an increasingly contested and congested EMS
  • Building cyber and EW effects at scale
  • Exploiting and sustaining access to space for C3 and targeting

 

Operational Problem H: Protecting deployed forces and homelands from advanced air and missile threats

  • Real time threat identification and boost-phase engagements
  • Implications and challenges of spaced based interceptors
  • Interoperability across all domains to enhance detection, tracking, interception and defeat

Warm Up Conversations

Brought to you throughout the year, to bring pressing topics to industry to spark conversation and provoke creative thinking to enable the ecosystem to come to the table with solutions.
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Agile procurement front and center as U.S. observes lessons from Ukraine
Deputy Chief Technology Officer for the U.S. Navy, Michael Frank, spoke with Apex about the valuable lessons learned from the conflicts in Ukraine and the Red Sea regarding agile procurement. 
In conversation with Gregory Allen and Douglas Berenson on the isolation of the defense industrial base
Gregory C. Allen, Douglas Berenson and Defense and Aerospace Report's Vago Muradian explore the state of the US defense industry, how it has become increasingly isolated from commercial industry and t …
In conversation with Anduril's Keith Flynn and Dr Zack Mears on its innovative new Arsenal I facility
In this session, Anduril's Senior Vice President for Production Keith Flynn, and Senior Vice President for Strategy Dr Zach Mears, explore the company's new Arsenal 1 facility in Ohio. The facility is …
In conversation with Palantir CTO Shyam Sankar on his vision for the US Defence industrial base
Palantir Technologies CTO Shyam Sankar and principal author of the 18 Theses - known as ‘The Defense Reformation’ - joined Vago Muradian on Defense & Aerospace Report to share a bold vision for transf …
Solving Operational Problems with Today’s Technology: Launching the Apex Conference Series
Watch the full session covering DIU's Vision for Replicator and the role of CDAO in supporting Join Integration
In conversation with Dr Alexander Miller on the future of scalable technology acquisition
Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian speaks with Dr. Alexander Miller to highlight key topics from technology acquisition, to scalability and lessons from Ukraine, ahead of Apex 2025.
A New War Mindset: The Future of Western Defense Innovation
Retired Colonel Enrique Oti discusses the key issues with defense acquisition and how adopting a different, war mindset could transform the process.
In conversation with Ret. Adm. Sir George Zambellas on a 'Darwinian' approach to defence innovation
In this session, Ret. Adm. Sir George Zambellas speaks with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian about the philosophical, technological, organizational considerations facing defense innovat …