CDAO Defence UK 2026

Day 1 27 January
Day 2 28 January

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8:00 AM

Registration & Light Breakfast
8:30 AM

Welcome Remarks from Corinium

Linda Lastovych - Senior Production Director - Defense - CORINIUM INTELLIGENCE
8:35 AM

Chairperson's Opening Remarks

Air Vice Marshal (Ret’d) Bruce Hedley - Former Director Joint Warfare - UK ARMED FORCES
Retaining Strategic Overmatch Through IT Modernization
8:45 AM

Opening Keynote: The Strategic Importance of Digital and AI for National Security
- Outlining the UK’s parliamentary priorities for defence, security, and technology in an era of geopolitical uncertainty.
- Highlighting the role of data, AI, and digital transformation in strengthening the UK’s defence posture and allied collaboration.
- Addressing the intersection of policy, procurement, and innovation in building a modern, resilient national security infrastructure.
- Emphasizing the importance of cross-sector partnerships to accelerate capability development and deliver operational advantage.
9:30 AM

From Joint to Integrated: Building the Digital Backbone of UK Defence
- How Strategic Command is driving the transition to a truly Integrated Force, underpinned by a common digital foundation.
- Delivering the Digital Targeting Web by 2027 to connect sensors, deciders, and effectors across all domains.
- Reforming procurement and innovation pathways to bring digital capabilities to the front line at speed.
- Building the next generation of digital warfighters and strengthening partnerships with industry, academia, and allies
10:00 AM

NATO’s Digital Transformation Implementation Strategy: Interoperability and Innovation for the Alliance
- Advancing NATO’s Digital by Design agenda to ensure allies can operate seamlessly across domains.
- Building data-centric C2 frameworks that enhance decision speed and multinational integration.
- Harnessing emerging and disruptive technologies to strengthen multi-domain operations.
- Driving interoperability through standards, architectures, and partnerships with nations, industry, and academia.
10:30 AM

Networking Break
Strategic Perspectives
11:00 AM

Operationalising AI in Defence: From Pilot Projects to Scaled Capability
- Embedding AI across Defence systems to deliver decision advantage and operational resilience.
- Accelerating from experimentation to enterprise adoption.
- Ensuring trust, governance, and ethical safeguards for AI-enabled capabilities in the battlespace.
- Building enduring partnerships with industry, academia, and allies to harness dual-use innovation.
11:30 AM

Defence Digital: Building the Core Platform for the Warfighter
- Delivering a common digital backbone – secure networks, resilient cloud, and assured data fabric.
- Driving adoption of open architectures and shared standards to accelerate interoperability and agility.
- Embedding cyber security and resilience at the heart of Defence’s digital transformation.
- Aligning digital strategy with operational needs, ensuring capabilities scale from enterprise to edge
12:00 PM

Commanders’ Panel Discussion: AI for Defence: From Experimentation to Operational Advantage
- How can Defence accelerate the move from AI pilot projects to scaled, mission-critical capabilities?
- What are the biggest trust and assurance challenges for deploying AI in command, control, and targeting?
- In what ways can the MoD and NATO leverage partnerships with industry and academia to stay ahead of adversaries?
- How should Defence balance rapid adoption of dual-use AI with the need for ethical safeguards and governance?
- What lessons from Ukraine and other recent conflicts can inform AI’s role in contested multi-domain operations?
12:45 PM

Lunch & Networking Break
Track A
2:00 PM

Digital by Design: Future Combat Air and the Next Generation RAF
- Harnessing the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) to integrate digital engineering, AI, and advanced data analytics from concept to cockpit.
- Building a digital thread across the lifecycle of future combat air – from design and testing to sustainment and upgrades.
- Leveraging synthetic environments and digital twins to accelerate capability development and readiness.
- Ensuring interoperability with allies through shared standards, architectures, and information systems
2:30 PM

Digitising the Royal Navy: From Ships to Data-Driven Fleets
- Building a digital backbone at sea through resilient networks, secure cloud, and data integration across platforms.
- Embedding AI, analytics, and digital twins to enhance readiness, sustainment, and operational decision-making.
- Accelerating procurement and innovation cycles to deliver maritime digital capabilities at pace.
3:00 PM

Panel Discussion: AI and Large Language Models in Defence: Risks, Opportunities, and Operational Value
- Where can AI and LLMs deliver genuine operational advantage for Defence today, and what remains aspirational?
- What safeguards are required to ensure trust, explainability, and governance in the deployment of AI-enabled systems?
- How should Defence mitigate security and resilience risks, including data integrity, adversarial AI, and system vulnerabilities?
- How can the MoD and NATO best leverage dual-use innovation from industry and academia while maintaining sovereign control?
3:30 PM

Networking Break in the Exhibition Area
4:00 PM

Alliance Future Surveillance and Control: Building NATO’s Digital Backbone
- Delivering a next-generation surveillance and control system to replace AWACS through cloud-enabled, data-driven capabilities.
- Integrating multi-domain data sources – air, space, land, and cyber – to enable real-time decision-making at scale.
- Ensuring interoperability and secure data sharing across NATO nations while protecting sovereign requirements.
- Harnessing industry innovation and advanced analytics
4:30 PM

Command and Control in the Digital Age: NATO’s Path to Interoperability”
- Redefining command and control frameworks to operate effectively in multi-domain and contested environments.
- Building a data-driven C2 architecture that enables faster, more resilient decision-making across the Alliance.
- Addressing the challenges of interoperability, standards, and information assurance between NATO and national forces.
Track B
2:00 PM

Shaping Defence’s Digital Future: Architecture, Innovation, and Trust
- Defining a coherent digital architecture that underpins integration across Services and domains.
- Driving innovation pipelines to bring emerging technologies into Defence securely and at speed.
- Embedding trust, governance, and accountability into digital transformation and AI adoption.
- Strengthening collaboration with industry and academia to deliver sustainable technological advantage
2:30 PM

Maritime Digital Transformation: Technology for the Future Fleet
- Leveraging data, AI, and digital engineering to transform naval platforms and operations.
- Embedding open architectures and modular systems to future-proof the fleet and accelerate upgrades.
- Applying synthetic environments and digital twins to enhance training, readiness, and sustainment.
- Ensuring resilient, interoperable technology to operate seamlessly with allies in contested maritime domains.
3:00 PM

Panel Discussion: Data Analytics and Cloud for Decision Advantage in Defence
- How can Defence build a resilient digital backbone through secure cloud and data fabrics across all domains?
- What are the biggest challenges in ensuring data interoperability and standards across Services, allies, and partners?
- How can enterprise analytics improve operational readiness and decision-making at both strategic and tactical levels?
- What role does cloud integration at the edge play in enabling warfighters with real-time insights?
- How should Defence prioritise cyber security and data assurance as digital platforms scale?
3:30 PM

Networking Break in the Exhibition Area
4:00 PM

Intelligence in the Digital Era: Data, Integration, and Decision Advantage
- Harnessing data analytics and AI to enhance intelligence collection, fusion, and dissemination.
- Building a digitally enabled Defence Intelligence enterprise that integrates with allies and partners.
- Ensuring trust, governance, and security in data-driven intelligence at scale.
- Aligning intelligence strategy with the MoD’s digital transformation and Integrated Force objectives.
4:30 PM

Delivering Core Information Services: The Digital Backbone of UK Defence
- Ensuring resilient, secure, and scalable digital infrastructure as the foundation for Defence operations.
- Modernising enterprise services and networks to support a digitally enabled, integrated force.
- Driving standardisation and interoperability across platforms and Services for greater efficiency and agility.
- Supporting Defence’s digital transformation journey by aligning core services with mission-critical priorities.
4:30 PM

Closing Remarks
4:45 PM

Welcome Reception
6:30 PM

End of Day 1

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8:00 AM

Registration & Light Breakfast
8:50 AM

Chairperson's Opening Remarks

Air Vice Marshal (Ret’d) Bruce Hedley - Former Director Joint Warfare - UK ARMED FORCES
9:00 AM

Delivering Operational Excellence: Transforming Defence Acquisition for a Future-Ready Force
- Driving Operational Excellence: Introducing the new DE&S operating model, designed to deliver more for the armed forces faster and smarter—aligned with the Strategic Defence Review and reform initiatives.
- Accelerating Innovation in Acquisition: Explaining how DE&S supports the move toward agile procurement and sovereign technology integration, matching acquisition with pace-of-conflict.
- Partnering for Industrial Resilience: Outlining collaboration with industry and international allies to modernize supply chains, enhance exports, and co-produce critical autonomous and digital capabilities.
9:30 AM

Advancing Joint Force C2 and Cyber Integration for Decision Advantage
- Strengthening the Joint Force C4 and cyber enterprise to ensure secure, resilient, and interoperable communications across all domains.
- Driving modernization of networks and information systems to support CJCS priorities for decision advantage in contested environments.
- Enhancing joint and coalition interoperability through common data standards, enterprise IT governance, and coordinated cyber defense efforts.
- Accelerating integration of emerging technologies, including cloud, automation, and AI, to support warfighter readiness and operational agility.
10:00 AM

Industry Leaders Panel Discussion
- How can industry best support the delivery of the UK Defence Data Strategy and ensure alignment with MoD’s digital transformation priorities?
- What approaches are proving most effective in building trusted, interoperable data ecosystems across allied nations and coalition partners?
- How do companies balance the push for rapid innovation in AI and advanced analytics with the need for security, governance, and ethical oversight?
- Where can the defence sector learn most from commercial best practices in cloud adoption, platform engineering, and large-scale data management?
10:30 AM

Networking Break in the Exhibition Area
11:15 AM

Strengthening Cyber and IT Resilience Across the Bundeswehr
- Advancing Germany’s defence digital transformation through modernization of IT, cyber, and information capabilities under the Cyber and Information Domain Service.
- Enhancing secure and resilient networks to enable agile, interoperable operations with NATO and EU allies.
- Driving integrated cyber defence initiatives that align strategy, governance, and operational readiness across the armed forces.
- Leveraging emerging technologies such as AI, cloud, and automation to build long-term resilience in contested digital environments.
11:45 AM

From Strategy to Execution: Delivering Digital Transformation Across UK Defence
- Spearheading the UK military’s digital transformation, integrating multi-domain capabilities across cyber, data, and communications under Strategic Command
- Driving strategic modernization by aligning Air, Land, Sea, and Space operations through enhanced digital infrastructure and operational digitisation
- Delivering scalable digital strategies that advance readiness, resilience, and interoperability across national and allied defence ecosystems
12:15 PM

Strengthening Government Digital Capability Through Service Modernization
- Advancing government-wide digital modernization through secure, resilient, and user-centric platforms.
- Embedding “digital by default” practices to streamline operations and deliver more efficient public services.
- Strengthening interoperability and shared standards across departments to accelerate transformation at scale.
- Leveraging lessons from Defence and other domains to align digital service delivery with national priorities.
12:45 PM

Lunch & Networking
Track A
2:00 PM

Anticipating Tomorrow’s Battlespace Through Strategic Futures
- Exploring the role of strategic foresight in shaping long-term defence planning and force design.
- Translating insights from global trends and emerging technologies into future operating concepts and capability frameworks.
- Ensuring integration across domains and services through the work of the Integration Design Authority.
- Aligning innovation, doctrine, and training to build a more agile and future-ready force.
2:30 PM

Catalysing Dual-Use Innovation Across Defence Ecosystems
- Spearheading the jHub Catalyst’s mission to rapidly repurpose mature commercial technologies for defence use, enhancing agility and mission relevance.
- Building impactful partnerships—such as the Marque Ventures Fellowship—to connect MoD innovators with venture and capital ecosystems shaping innovation pipelines.
- Structuring the jHub’s scout and project model for fast-tracked experimentation with emerging dual-use capabilities tailored to UK military priorities.
3:00 PM

Accelerating Defence Innovation Through Dual-Use Ventures
- Exploring how venture models can rapidly identify, adapt, and scale dual-use technologies for defence applications.
- Building partnerships between government, investors, and scale-ups to strengthen innovation pipelines.
- Driving speed and relevance in technology adoption by aligning commercial innovation cycles with defence mission needs.
- Sustaining long-term capability development through venture-backed models that balance agility with operational viability.
3:30 PM

Networking Break in the Exhibition Area
4:00 PM

Maximizing Defence Science: Strategy, Investment, and S&T Capability
- Setting research policy, cross-government collaboration, and strategic investment to deliver operational advantage
- Managing the £1 billion-plus Core Research Programme to maintain S&T capability health and align R&D portfolios with long-term defence priorities.
- Orchestrating international and academic partnerships to ensure UK defence tech stays strategically advantaged across evolving threats and domains.
4:30 PM

Accelerating Innovation: From Idea to Impact
- Enabling military advantage by fast-tracking dual-use technologies that address critical defence and security challenges.
- Connecting innovators—from academia, startups, and non-traditional tech sectors—to front-line stakeholders through funded competitions and collaborative experimentation .
- Simplifying access to government through streamlined outreach, funding pathways with rapid turnaround, and IP-light models to accelerate prototype to procurement
Track B
2:00 PM

Building Digital Resilience: Designing Integrated Defence Digital Capabilities
- Leading the integration of Defence’s digital function, overseeing cohesive strategy, governance, and a £4.6 billion portfolio to drive pan-Defence digital impact.
- Spearheading the Digital Skills for Defence programme to deliver a digitally fluent workforce across the armed forces and civil service.
- Embedding enterprise-wide digital coherence through unified oversight of governance, professional standards, and capability delivery.
2:30 PM

Securing Cyber & Electromagnetic Advantage Through Unified Force Posture
- Leading the consolidation of cyber and electromagnetic operations under CSOC to create a cohesive strategic posture.
- Advancing national cyber resilience through collaborative infrastructure initiatives—such as the CGI secure Cyber Centre in Chippenham.
- Driving integration of cyber and electromagnetic capabilities across defence domains to ensure operational interoperability.
- Informing vision and partnerships for digital and cyber strategy across allied forces in the evolving global threat landscape.
3:00 PM

Panel Discussion: Strengthening Cybersecurity and Digital Resilience in Defence
- How can defence organizations embed “secure by design” principles across enterprise IT, operational technology, and mission systems?
- What strategies are proving effective in defending against state-sponsored cyber threats and hybrid warfare tactics targeting military networks?
- How do we balance the adoption of cloud, AI, and digital innovation with the need to mitigate cyber risks and supply chain vulnerabilities?
- What lessons can be drawn from public-private collaboration in cyber defence, and how can they be applied to strengthen coalition and allied resilience?
3:30 PM

Networking Break in the Exhibition Area
4:00 PM

Embedding “Secure by Design” Across Defence Cyber Operations
- Driving adoption of the “Secure by Design” approach across MOD cyber infrastructure, emphasizing resilience, risk reduction, and proactive security engineering.
- Defining and enforcing Defence-wide cyber requirements and standards, including the emerging Defence Cyber Certification (DCC) for strengthening supplier resilience.
- Leading strategy and capability development for defensive cyber operations, grounded in principles of operational readiness and policy alignment.
4:30 PM

Anticipating and Mitigating Cyber Risk in the Age of AI
- Exploring how systemic cyber risks and AI-enabled threats are reshaping the defence landscape.
- Applying advanced threat modelling and risk propagation analysis to strengthen national and allied cyber resilience.
- Addressing the challenge of integrating commercial AI and digital technologies into defence ecosystems without increasing vulnerability.
- Outlining pathways for building long-term capacity: from workforce skills to institutional resilience in contested digital environments.
5:00 PM

Chairperson's Closing Remarks
5:15 PM

End of Conference

CDAO Defence UK schedule

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