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Aerospace and Defense Review

Loitering Munitions Conference Set for Record Attendance as International Defence Participation Continues to Grow

With only a few weeks remaining before the Loitering Munitions Conference convenes, organisers have announced record levels of attendance, reflecting the continued global focus on loitering munition capabilities and autonomous strike systems.

The event, which has grown significantly since its previous edition, is expected to welcome more than 350 military, government and industry professionals from over 30 nations, making it one of the largest dedicated gatherings of its kind in Europe.

Countries represented at this year's conference include Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Hungary, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, Israel, Algeria, India, Chile, Jordan, Austria, Greece and the United States, among others.

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The increase in international attendance has been accompanied by a notable rise in military participation, highlighting the growing importance of loitering munitions across land, air and joint force operations. As armed forces continue to evaluate lessons learned from recent conflicts and accelerate investment in autonomous capabilities, the conference is expected to provide a timely platform for discussion between military operators, programme leaders, policymakers and industry stakeholders.

This year's agenda will feature more than 40 expert speakers from leading defence organisations, providing perspectives on capability development, battlefield integration, procurement priorities and future operational requirements.

Keynote presentations will be delivered by senior military and government leaders, including:

• Norbert Blumenthal, Chief of Division, Land and Naval Armament, Federal Holdings, German Federal Ministry of Defense

• Brigadier Ed Cartwright, Commander, 16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team, British Army

• Brigadier Chris Gent, DCOS Transformation & Integration, NATO Allied Land Command

• Colonel Ken Bernier, Project Manager, Autonomous Robotic Capabilities (ARC), CPE Mission Autonomy, US

• Major Volodymyr Kuzminskyi, Unmanned Systems Forces Command, Ukrainian Armed Forces

The speaker line-up reflects a broad cross-section of defence stakeholders involved in the development, acquisition and operational employment of loitering munition systems. Discussions are expected to cover evolving capability requirements, emerging technologies and the role of loitering munitions in future force structures.

Industry engagement has also reached a new high, with organisers confirming that the exhibition floor has now sold out. The increased participation from defence manufacturers, technology providers and systems integrators mirrors growing international demand for advanced loitering munition solutions and countermeasure technologies.

With attendance continuing to rise, only a limited number of delegate places remain available ahead of the conference. Organisers have confirmed that fewer than 20 passes are still available, underscoring the strong interest generated across both the military and industrial communities.

The conference is expected to provide a significant forum for international dialogue on one of the fastest-evolving areas of modern defence capability, bringing together key decision-makers to examine operational lessons, technological developments and future procurement priorities.

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