Upcoming Events

As strategic and heavy airlift continues to drive expeditionary capability – the market capitalisation of this mission critical sector continues to grow. Delivering ‘boots on the ground’, as well as military support to civilian authorities in the recent COVID-19 epidemic, means that there has never been a more important time to view how armed forces, industry and governments are developing this force multiplier.

SMi Group are pleased to announce the return of the 21^st Annual Military Airlift and Air-to-Air Refuelling conference, taking place this December as a fully interactive virtual event.

Highlights for 2020:

• Listen to briefings from key allied partners across the strategic and tactical airlift sectors and develop an understanding of programme developments and future requirements

• Refined focus on the air-to-air refuelling market and how this critical enabler provides mission support

• Industry presentations from key commercial partners across the domain including Airbus, Boeing, TLD, Leonardo, Mitiga Solutions and more…

• Learn about key topics within the Military Airlift and AAR community including rotary wing AAR and airlift, resource pooling efforts, humanitarian and disaster relief airlift, rapid response and delivery capability, and the use of assets for Military Aid to Civil Authorities (MACA) in response to COVID-19…

Military & Government Personnel can attend the event for FREE and commercial organisations can register for only £999.

Due to the ongoing challenges surrounding COVID-19, this conference will now run as a virtual event.

Mobile communications systems have become increasingly vital as militaries continue to deploy in degraded environments. And so, as near-peer adversaries evolve and develop ever more complex electronic warfare technologies, militaries must develop stronger and more resilient communications technology in order to withstand the challenges of our modern battlespace.

With this in mind, Mobile Deployable Communications 2021 will bring together programme managers, key decision-makers, industry experts and thought leaders from Europe and beyond to explore the latest developments in communications technology.

Supported by the Portuguese Army, Mobile Deployable Communications is the only conference addressing CIS requirements in the European operational environment through briefs from key regional partners and their international allies.

Key highlights:

• Hear updates and guidance from CIS program managers and communications experts
• Learn about future requirements for equipment and procurement processes
• Discover the latest communication technology to optimise battlefield command and control
• Meet and network with senior military leaders and industry during dedicated networking sessions across two days

With rapid technological advances changing the way maritime forces need to utilise and manage ISR capabilities across domains, Maritime and Littoral Reconnaissance and Surveillance systems and platforms have become a critical component of naval capability.

SMi Group are delighted to announce the return of the 6^th Annual Maritime Reconnaissance and Surveillance Technology Conference, taking place virtually on the 3^rd and 4^th February 2021. With the previous events taking place in Rome, the event has brought forward a discussion on the growing need for more comprehensive and sophisticated Joint Maritime ISR capabilities in the Mediterranean and beyond, particularly following the Migrant Crisis that remains.

Platforms and topics discussed include: Unmanned ISR platforms, Space-based Maritime Reconnaissance, Fleet Air Arm ISR capabilities, Sensors at Sea and more.

As the only meeting with a specific focus on Maritime ISR, the conference will bring together the widest range of expert nations ever to discuss key operational and technological challenges facing navies and other maritime organisations, as they resolve to monitor the sea and protect their borders.

Military & Government Personnel can attend the event for FREE and commercial organisations can register for only £499.

With COVID-19 spreading across the globe, the security and integrity of a nation’s borders has rarely been more important than now. Amid this disruption, the problems of migration, cross-border criminality, and smart-borders have become even more critical as rogue elements seek to exploit the situation. These issues need to be addressed urgently by the international community.

Now in its fourteenth year, the Border Security Conference has established itself as a market leader in this sector and will return in February 2021 to meet these issues head-on. The conference provides an excellent opportunity to meet and network with senior military staff, government figures and industry from around the world, all responsible in their own way for enhancing border security capabilities on a global scale.

Join us virtually to explore the latest insight on the security and integrity of border points (land, ports, airports, or illegal ingress points) in response to growing global threats.

Key reasons to attend:

• Engage with a dynamic audience of border force officers, government officials, airport security managers and industry specialists on crucial topics such as biometrics, smart borders, migration, cross-border crime, and much more
• Presentations from the Czech Republic Interior Ministry, Prague Airport and other international agency and airport speakers
• Dedicated sessions on COVID-19 response for border officials
• New speakers from Gatwick Airport, African Union, Estonia, the UN, Czech Republic, and more

Military & Government Personnel can attend the event for FREE and commercial organisations can register for only £499.

As cooperation between armed forces, and the prevalence of joint logistics operations increases, so the importance of defence logistics as a capability in its own right continues to grow.

SMi Group are pleased to announce the return of the 6th annual Defence Logistics Central and Eastern Europe conference, taking place virtually in March 2021. 

Conference Highlights:

• The only logistics conference specifically dedicated to Central and Eastern Europe, bringing together senior supply chain leaders from the region and beyond to discuss current and future priorities and developments.
• The speaker line-up includes senior military logisticians from Albania, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Norway, Poland, and the UK.
• Key fundamental topics to be covered include: Regional Updates, Supply Chain Management Solutions, International Operations and Solutions, MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul), and Host Nation Support.
• New for 2021: new speaker from Albania and new topics to be discussed including AI, additive manufacturing, and medical logistics.

The two-day event will bring together the key military logisticians from across the Central and Eastern European region and beyond. The conference aims to discuss new trends, crucial developments, and the methods, strategies, and procedures armed forces are increasingly pursuing for optimal logistics efficiency.

Military & Government Personnel can attend the event for FREE and commercial organisations can register for only £499.

Building on the huge success of its six previous years, SMi Group’s Future Soldier Technology Conference will return on 9th – 10th March 2021 as a virtual event to discuss what nations are doing to enhance their dismounted soldier technology across the key capability areas of lethality, survivability, sustainability, C4i and power systems.

As the only conference exclusively focused on dismounted soldier technology, Future Soldier Technology 2021 will be an essential event for all those in the field, gathering operational users, capability development directors and industry professionals from across the globe to discuss soldier modernisation programmes, current requirements, new technologies and more.

Key Highlights: 

• Hear keynote briefings from senior military officers on leading soldier modernisation programmes
• Gain a unique focus on the human factors surrounding new technologies, including ergonomics, carry distribution, new materials, durability, and tools used to operate in extreme weather environments
• Listen to and engage in high level panel discussions featuring technical managers and project engineers from the military and research agencies
• Network virtually with professionals who are shaping and influencing future soldier programmes

We wanted to inform you that regrettably we have had to postpone our Future Armoured Vehicles Situational Awareness conference. The event will now take place next year on 12^th-13^th April 2021.

SMi Group proudly presents the Future Armoured Vehicles Situational Awareness 2021, the leading conference for armoured vehicle experts focused on C2, C4i, sensors, optronics and vehicle architecture.

The 2021 event invites not only military programme managers, operational commanders and leading engineers, but will also provide the perfect platform for both operational users and industry to share their insights on the latest systems and sub-systems, providing greater awareness of existing capabilities and future requirements.

Key topics will include: vetronic architectures, communications, CIS capabilities, battle management systems, acoustic sensors, optronics, crew displays, active protection, defensive aid suites and mobile camouflage systems.

Due to the ongoing challenges associated with public gatherings and COVID-19, we regrettably have had to postpone Small Satellites Conference.

We are pleased to make you aware of the NEW CONFIRMED DATE:

• Small Satellites – 26 and 27 April 2021, Holiday Inn Kensington Forum, London, UK.

With nations around the world developing their small satellites capability at pace, governments and trans-national agencies must manage this changing domain. Small Satellites 2020 will consider best practise, regulatory principals, production and operational lessons learnt to effectively utilise this revolutionised resource.

Gathering representatives from across the alliance to meet, network and explore the small satellite revolution and its impact on future space.

Event Highlights:

• Explore the LEO/GEO small, cube and nano-satellite market and its impact on future space.
• Delve into key topics surrounding the new space market including: the legal and policy framework for operating in space, creating a regulatory structure to support the small satellite industry and how data networking across small satellite constellations is enabling new connectivity on the ground.
• Learn about key programmes being developed by emerging space companies and national Governments.
• Exhibition opportunities for industry to showcase their capabilities.
• Part of ‘Space Week’, this annual conference will be held in conjunction with a Military Space Situational Awareness Conference, to provide a holistic view of the new space environment.

Unmanned systems are becoming an increasingly essential part of the world’s fleets as modern navies seek new ways to complete dangerous tasks faster, easier, and with fewer sailors and marines in harm’s way. To enable this, leading navies have recently been increasing their investment in unmanned technology, so it has never been more crucial to explore the latest advances and opportunities and to align priorities between allied nations.

SMi Group are pleased to announce the return of Unmanned Maritime Systems Technology (UMST), taking place in London on 12^th-13^th May 2021.

Key topics to be discussed include: Autonomy for MCM and ASW operations, updates on key unmanned platform programmes, the future of unmanned capabilities in the Royal Navy (including a dedicated panel), preparing and supporting unmanned systems for operations, UMS interoperability initiatives, unmanned hydrography and oceanography, and many more.

As the world’s leading event, UMST 2021 will provide a crucial forum for the discussion of current and future projects and programmes delivering unmanned and autonomous technology for the naval unmanned systems community.

Announcement: Due to ongoing concerns over COVID-19, this conference is now taking place on 19th – 20th May 2021 in NOVOTEL BUDAPEST CENTRUM, Budapest, Hungary.

Key topics to be discussed: modernisation programmes, readiness of regional rotary fleets, procurement goals, national security, operations and interoperability, platform and programme upgrades, and much more.

The two-day conference will be expected to have the widest European nations, where key industry players such as Airbus, Bell, Leonardo, Sikorsky and many more are anticipated to attend! There will also be strong host nation representation from the Hungarian Forces as well as other senior military experts from the Central and Eastern European region.

Announcement: Due to ongoing concerns over COVID-19, this conference is now taking place on 8-9 June 2021 with a Dismounted Soldier Situational Awareness focus day on the 7th of June 2021, in Arlington, Virginia.

SMi Group are proud to announce the return of the 2nd annual Military Space USA Conference and Exhibition taking place in Los Angeles, on the 7^th – 9^th June 2021.

With the US DoD pushing the acquisition of the next generation of space capability up its agenda to stay ahead of near-peer adversaries in what is widely expected to be the next major warfighting domain. Military Space USA will explore how rapid prototyping, requirement setting, and procurement have become keystone policies, now highlighted by programmes such as SMC 2.0 and AFRL’s innovation pitch days.

Register today to meet and network with over 140 attendees, across 6+ hours of breaks including: defence agencies, militaries, governments, disruptive agile space companies across the Silicon Valley along with established industrial primes that lead in the space domain.

Key Reasons to Attend:

• Learn from a variety of AFSPACE stakeholders about the ongoing SMC 2.0 reorganizational efforts and how rapid acquisition is changing approaches to space
• Listen to key allied partners and explore where opportunities for partnerships moving forward can be developed
• Explore key topics within the US DoD’s approach to space including SMC 2.0, Accelerator Programmes, Blackjack and more

For more information and to register, visit: http://www.milspaceusa.com/armada

Announcement:  Due to ongoing concerns over COVID-19, this conference is now taking place on 10th-11th June 2021 in Arlington, USA.

KADEX is the largest multi-profile congress and exhibition event of defence, aerospace and cyber security industries in Central Asia.

It is the best regional platform for innovative defence and security companies worldwide to present their product and services to the relevant decision-makers and practitioners. If you are looking for opportunities to increase your presence in this region there is a unique event in Nur-Sultan city (Astana), Kazakhstan.

Participation at KADEX is a unique opportunity to establish and enhance relationship with governmental bodies, armed forces and business throughout the region.

Do not miss one of the high profile events in defence industry bringing together over 320 exhibitors and more than 48 official delegations from all over the world.

With near-peer adversaries aggressively pursuing RAS development, the US DoD is investing heavily in land robotics which are becoming ever more crucial for gaining overmatch in possible high-intensity conflict. These added investments in advanced technologies will increase Warfighter lethality, transform situational awareness and remove soldiers from dangerous situations.

SMi Group proudly presents the newest addition to our sell-out Unmanned Systems portfolio: Military Robotics and Autonomous Systems (RAS) USA, taking place in Arlington, in June 2021. 

As the newest and most exciting US-based conference specifically dedicated to military robotics in the land environment, the two-day event will provide a global meeting point for the US ground robotics community, key allied partners, and RAS thought leaders to explore new opportunities and challenges in this rapidly changing field.

For more information and to register, please visit http://www.roboticsautonomous-usa.com/armada

SMi Group are delighted to announce that the 5^th annual MilSatCom USA conference will return to Arlington, Virginia, on the 23^rd – 24^th June 2021.

We are holding this conference at a time when the US space sector is adjusting to the new US Space Force, takes forward the WGS-11 program, and invests further in LEO programs (such as Blackjack) and COMSATCOM integration. Given this, the SATCOM industry has lots of opportunities for investment and development.

MilSatCom USA will bring together military and government leaders, both from the US and from key allies, and major industry SATCOM providers to explore MILSATCOM in depth. Topics being discussed include emerging US Space policy, SATCOM resiliency and redundancy, partnership and collaboration between nations and organisations, and expeditionary SATCOM for the Warfighter.

Highlights of MilSatCom USA 2021:

• Meet and network with SATCOM stakeholders from the DoD, including the USAF, USN, US Army, US COCOMS, NRL, AFRL and DISA
• Hear the latest updates on the US DoD’s SATCOM programmes, such as Iridium, WGS, AEHF, MUOS, Blackjack and MOUs with partner nations
• Discover the latest in SATCOM technology and find new products, techniques and opportunities in this dynamic field
• Explore greater opportunities for collaboration and partnership, both between allied partners and within the DoD

The biennial IMDEX Asia is Asia Pacific’s most established international maritime defence show. A must-attend event among naval and maritime stakeholders, IMDEX Asia is recognised as an important ecosystem that sets out to facilitate strategic conversations that foster engagement, accelerate global and regional collaboration and promote growth for the naval and maritime industries.

*Important Announcement: SMi Group’s Airborne ISR Conference will now take place on the 20^th-21^stOctober 2021.*

SMi is proud to present the 6th Airborne ISR conference to be held in London on the 20th and 21st October 2021.

Airborne ISR continues to be an incredibly important capability for militaries. Effective ISR enables kinetic assets the resources they need to be effective on the battlefield. Perhaps more than this, ISR is an extremely capable deterrent in its own right and modern dissemination technology and techniques enables forces to deal with threats before they can cause harm.

SMi Group are delighted to announce that the fifteenth annual Defence Exports conference will convene on 15 – 16 September 2021 in Rome, Italy – a prime location for international defence trade.

As one of the leading global defence exports conferences, this meeting will provide an unparalleled opportunity for industry professionals and government officials to discuss global defence trade compliance in depth.

There is a need for effective strategies that will optimise efficiency in global defence trade compliance – Defence Exports 2021 will explore this challenge and examine how a robust global trade compliance programme can be implemented.

Key highlights: 

• Listen to senior briefings on regulation controls including ITAR, EAR, ECR, Dual-Use and the Wassenaar Agreement
• Meet and network with leading lawyers, compliance experts, government officials and industry representatives from across the globe
• Discuss how a robust global trade compliance programme can be implemented
• Discover practical guidance on effective trade, licensing and compliance

As the shift from traditional power packs towards alternative means of vehicle propulsion accelerates, and armed forces around the world begin to embrace innovative solutions to armoured vehicle mobility, powertrain and power management considerations have never been so important.

SMi Group proudly presents the newest addition to our sell-out Armoured Vehicles events portfolio: Future Armoured Vehicles Power Systems 2021, the only conference for armoured vehicle experts focused on vehicle power and propulsion systems.

Highlights for 2021:

• Explore how technological advances will enhance overall performance for future armoured vehicles, as platform electrification moves closer to reality, and software developments allow for superior survivability, mobility and situational awareness capabilities
• Listen to key host-nation decision makers
• Network with key OEMs and System Integrators
• Understand the opportunities for industry to engage in the future of armoured vehicle propulsion, with the UK and international partners continuing to develop innovative technology at a rapid rate

Discuss a diverse range of topics including; platform electrification, hybrid fuel-cells and hybrid-electric drive, maintaining the operability of increasingly power-sensitive systems, enhancing situational awareness, survivability and lethality through more effective APUs, and many more.

As new threats create more challenging and dangerous air operations, and NATO-aligned militaries see increasingly higher operational tempos, flight training and preparation must respond to these developments to prepare pilots for dynamic operational environments.

BENEFITS OF ATTENDING:

• GAIN a holistic look at current developments in flight training across fast-jet, rotary-wing, fixed-wing
• DELVE into the latest topics and trends shaping the future of synthetic training, retention and training, gaming technology and more
• HEAR the latest updates from leading OEMs delivering the latest flight training platforms and systems
• NEW SPEAKERS

There have been a number of recent investments from NATO-allied countries in flight training systems and platforms and for this reason, the two-day event represents a unique opportunity for operational users and industry to meet and exchange new ideas and share best practices on how to ensure that the pilots of the future are ready to fight and win.

Announcement:  Due to ongoing concerns over COVID-19, this conference is now taking place on 15th – 17th November 2021 in London, UK.

Announcement:  Due to ongoing concerns over COVID-19, this conference is now taking place on 17th – 18th November 2021 in London, UK.