Invitation

20260310_Avalik_KV_3.5-1_26_167_Algne sõnum.eml

Good Morning.

I hope this email finds you well.

I was looking to invite representatives of the Estonian Joint Headquarters to attend the upcoming Combined Naval Event..

This event will be held in Farnborough, UK from 19th - 21st May 2026.

This conference, supported by the Royal Navy and NATO will have over 2500 military, government, research & industry representatives from approximately 80 nations discussing a number of key areas including:

* Surface Warfare and Future Systems.

* Shipbuilding and Autonomous Systems.

* Digital, Targeting and Innovation.

* Submarine Technology and Special Operations.

* Autonomous Systems and Undersea Warfare.

* Subsea and Seabed Warfare.

* Human Factors, Mental Wellness and Training

I have attached the latest conference agenda.

Attendance for all Military and Government representatives is free of charge.

Only travel and accommodation costs would need to be covered.

Tickets - Please use this LINK to register and secure a free pass.

Thank you again for taking the time to consider this invitation. Please feel free to share this information to all those who may benefit from attending.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Kind Regards.

Tom

--

Thomas Wiffen

Audience Manager

+44 1245 407 922

[email protected]

www.defenceleaders.com

CNE Poster -QR Code.pdf

EXHIBITORS AND SPONSORS INCLUDE:

EUROPE’S LARGEST ANNUAL NAVAL EVENT 19TH - 21ST MAY 2026 | FARNBOROUGH, UK

and many more...

FEATURED SPEAKERS

KEY TOPICSEVENT STATS

EXHIBITION HALL 150+ EXHIBITORS FEATURING:

Shipyards, prime contractors & defence OEMs Small & medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) Shipbuilding & maritime engineering Combat systems, C6ISR, digital transformation & sensors Autonomous systems, robotics & emerging technologies Cyber, software, simulation & support services

NAVYLEADERS.COM/CNE

2,200+

85+

220+

140+

INTERNATIONAL ATTENDEES

NATIONS REPRESENTED

EXHIBITORS

EXPERT SPEAKERS

Over three days, attend presentations covering: Surface Warfare and Future Systems Shipbuilding and Autonomous Systems Digital, Targeting and Innovation Submarine Technology and Special Operations Autonomous Systems and Undersea Warfare Subsea and Seabed Warfare

General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff,

Royal Navy

Vice Admiral Markku Hassinen, Chief of the Border Guard,

Finnish Border Guard

Admiral Sir Keith Blount KCB OBE, Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe,

NATO

Rear Admiral Özgür Ekren, Commander and CTF Black Sea,

Turkish Naval Forces

Vice Admiral Paul Beattie CBE, Second Sea Lord,

Royal Navy

Vice Admiral Curt Renshaw, Commander U.S. Navy 5th Fleet,

US Navy

Commodore Michael Turner, Director General Maritime Integrated

Capabilities, Royal Australian Navy

Rear Admiral Paul Flos, Program Director International Maritime

Materiel Cooperation, Netherlands Ministry of Defence

Commodore Kyrre Haugen, Fleet Commander,

Royal Norwegian Navy

Commander SG Kai Nickelsdorf, Commander 1st Submarine Squadron,

German Navy

REGISTER HERE

CNE2026 Agenda.pdf

19TH - 21ST MAY 2026 | FARNBOROUGH , UK

CONFERENCE AGENDA

Welcome to the 2026 Combined Naval Event — Europe’s largest and most influential gathering for the naval community. Since we last met, the world has grown more chaotic and less stable. Conflict endures across Europe and beyond, and rapid advances in technology continue to reshape warfare. Autonomous systems, strategic unpredictability, threats to global trade, and the rise of “sub threshold” aggression against our critical infrastructure are now daily aspects of our volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous world. At sea, these challenges are most visible. The maritime domain, once seen as a stable global commons, has become contested. Russian actions on the shores of the Black Sea and on the seabed of the Baltic Sea, China’s defiance of international norms in the South China Sea, and the disruption caused by non-state actors in the Red Sea all highlight the scale and urgency of the task before us. The Combined Naval Event brings together leading experts in maritime warfare, naval capability, and defence technology to confront these realities and shape a shared path forward. As history reminds us, our collective prosperity, freedom, and security depend on the sea, and yet its importance is too easily forgotten until crises arise. This year’s conference is therefore not just a meeting, but part of an ongoing dialogue on the future of naval power and global stability. Now in its fifth year, CNE has become the premier international forum for such discussion. I pay tribute to my predecessor as Executive Chairman, Vice Admiral Duncan Potts, for his leadership and wisdom in establishing this legacy, and I am honoured to step into his shoes. I look forward to welcoming more than 2,000 of you - from defence industries, armed forces, academia, and government - to Farnborough this May, where together we will chart the course ahead.

Rear Admiral (Ret’d) James Parkin CB CBE Executive Chairman, Combined Naval Event 2026

What a privilege to see you again at the Combined Naval Event 2026! I am grateful to be back for a second year supporting maritime, submarine, and advanced technology discussions with a wide array of perspectives from naval experts around the world. Last year I was struck by the difficulties many countries must confront in building and maintaining ships and submarines. During the event, it was emphasized that challenges are prevalent across all nations, regardless of their size or capabilities. Ships and submarines are significant capital investments, require highly trained crews for today’s sophisticated technologies, and demand committed lifecycle-maintenance programmes that account for operations in the most challenging ocean environments. Building and maintaining ships and submarines is costly and requires a healthy industrial base, presenting a common challenge for all countries. Several presentations last year focused on new opportunities that may augment or replace the larger platforms in some mission areas. I highlight below three specific areas that were discussed: ● The collaboration between nations partnering to acquire naval platforms. These examples emphasised the opportunity to reduce cost,

stabilise industrial base capacity, and provide resilience in supply chains and lifecycle maintenance; ● The use of uncrewed systems to perform tasks or missions more efficiently. In other words, carry out those missions at lower cost, with

less risk. And indeed, perform tasks that just cannot be accomplished by larger, manned platforms. The displays throughout the many industry partner booths highlight just how far uncrewed technology has come in the past few years; and

● Lastly, the potential of human and machine collaboration, acknowledging that when smartly teamed, they can provide greater capabilities than when deployed separately.

All speakers highlighted capabilities considering specific adversary threats, geography, manpower and habitability factors, and the harsh maritime environment. The integration of advanced technology and classic heavy-industry capabilities requires focused collaboration between navies, governments, and industry. Twenty-first-century solutions demand the need for a faster rate of change in technological incorporation and agile acquisition processes. The importance of security at sea has not changed. The requirement to project power in and across the seas has not decreased, and if anything, is now more necessary in today’s more complex geopolitical environment. I look forward to continuing our discussions, advancing ideas and solutions, and creating partnerships at this very important Combined Naval Event 2026!

Vice Admiral (Ret’d) Jeffrey Trussler Underwater Chairman, Combined Naval Event 2026

VIP PRE-EVENT PASS COLLECTION & DRINKS | MONDAY 18th MAY 2026 | AVIATOR HOTEL

1700 - 1900: Pre-event pass collection, informal networking drinks reception ● Meet the Navy Leaders team and network with other conference delegates ● Collect your badges, conference guides and any other required information ● A relaxed and casual evening that will save you time at registration on Tuesday morning

Hosted by Leonardo DRS

EXCLUSIVE PRIVATE BRIEFINGS | Location: ‘Navigate 1’

By invitation only: for information please contact the Navy Leaders team

Navy Leaders are delighted to offer bespoke, invitation-only meetings and workshops to a select group of Combined Naval Event 2026 attendees. These run concurrently alongside our main content programme in our exclusive private briefing room: Navigate 1. Whilst attendance at these sessions is predominantly by invitation only, please contact the Navy Leaders team if you wish to be present.

TUESDAY 19th MAY 2026

0900 - 1030 DETAILS TBC

1045 - 1215

DETAILS TBC

1230 - 1400

Safeguarding CUI with a Geo-Datafusion-powered solution

1415 - 1545

DETAILS TBC

1600 - 1730

Simulating Scenarios to Secure Fleet Readiness—Today and Tomorrow

In this session, you will discover how advanced simulation techniques support the control of readiness and availability across the entire life cycle of maritime assets—from concept design to full operational deployment.

● Simulations based on the principles of Asset Management, Life cycle Management and System Dynamics ● Explore different: mission profiles, use strategies, maintenance strategies, design alternatives ● Case study of Royal Netherlands Navy for: current fleet and future fleet

Commander M.C. (Maurice) van Bellen, Senior ILS Manager for Anti Submarine Warfare Frigate and Future Air Defender, NL Materiel and IT Command; Directorate of Projects Jan Schipper, Managing partner, Copernicos BV Michel Kuijer, Managing partner, Copernicos B.V.

Page 2 of 17

WEDNESDAY 20th MAY 2026

0715 - 0845 SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE

0900 - 1030

DETAILS TBC

Page 3 of 17

1045 - 1215

DETAILS TBC

1230 - 1400

DETAILS TBC

1415 - 1545 DETAILS TBC

1600 - 1730 DETAILS TBC

THURSDAY 21st MAY 2026

0715 - 0845 SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE

0900 - 1030

DETAILS TBC

1045 - 1215

DETAILS TBC

OPENING PLENARY | Theatres A & B 0615 - ≈5km Morning run

Leaving from Aviator Hotel SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE

0800 - Registration and exhibition opens Hosted by Babcock International Group

0800 - Morning coffee SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE

0800 - Performance in the Central Networking Zone by The Band of His Majesty's Royal Marines Portsmouth

0900 - Chairman’s welcome and opening remarks

Rear Admiral (Ret’d) James Parkin, Former Director Develop, Royal Navy

0915 - Host Nation Opening Address: Readiness Warfighting Plan

General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff, Commandant General of the Royal Marines, Royal Navy

0940 - Industry Keynote Hosted by BAE Systems

1005 - The role of NATO navies in restoring deterrence in the Euro-Atlantic region

Admiral Sir Keith Blount KCB OBE, Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe, NATO

1030 - Industry Keynote Hosted by BAE Systems

1055 - Morning coffee and networking Hosted by Safeguard Engineering

1055 - Performance in the Central Networking Zone by The Band of His Majesty's Royal Marines Portsmouth

Page 4 of 17

SURFACE KEYNOTES | Location: Theatres A & B SUBSURFACE KEYNOTE | Location: Theatres E & F As global threats intensify, maritime security is more important than ever. This session will explore the strategic imperatives, emerging technologies and evolving requirements that will shape surface-fleet capabilities for the next decade and beyond.

The shape of the underwater sphere has shifted towards the widespread utilisation of emerging technologies to combat hybrid and asymmetric threats. This session will explore the strategic direction of our allies in developing subsurface capabilities to ensure operational effectiveness.

1125 - Chairman’s opening remarks Rear Admiral (Ret’d) James Parkin, Former Director Develop, Royal Navy

1125 - Chairman’s opening remarks Vice Admiral (Ret’d) Jeffrey Trussler, Former Deputy Chief of the Naval Operations for Information Warfare, US Navy

SHIPBUILDING STRATEGIES AND INDUSTRIAL CAPACITY

Ensuring a robust, innovative, and adaptable shipbuilding industry is not only essential for national security, but also for sustaining industrial and economic strength. Here we focus on balancing fleet renewal and modernisation with the long-term goal of developing a sustainable and competitive industrial base.

UNDERWATER TECHNOLOGY

Advances in naval technologies have always shaped war at sea; in the 21st century disruptive and emerging technologies provide opportunities and threats for fleets. This session will explore the technologies that will be needed by warfighters to ensure dominance in the underwater environment.

1130 - The 5th Fleet in the Contested Maritime Domain ● The unique command structure of C5F and its vital mission to safeguard the

strategic maritime crossroads of the strait of Hormuz, Bal el-Mandeb, and Suez Canal

● Current threat landscape from state sponsored aggression to non-state actor attacks

● Innovative operational responses including multinational coalitions and pioneering the use of unmanned systems

Vice Admiral Curt Renshaw, Commander U.S. Navy 5th Fleet, US Navy

1130 - Future undersea warfare capability Rear Admiral Andy Perks, Director Submarines, Royal Navy

1155 - Industry Above Water Keynote Presentation Hosted by Babcock International Group

1155 - Industry Underwater Keynote Presentation Hosted by TKMS ATLAS UK

1220 - The Hybrid Navy Rear Admiral Rich Harris, Director Develop, Royal Navy

1220 - US Submarine Capabilities Transformation Ongoing programmes Transformation of procurement and capability development Opportunities for engagement

Vice Admiral Robert Gaucher, Submarine Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager (Submarine Czar), US Navy

Page 5 of 17

Day One: Tuesday 19th May 2026

1245 - Surface Lunch and networking SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE

1245 - Central Lunch and networking Hosted by Denco Fluid Systems

1245 - Underwater Lunch and networking SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE

SURFACE WARFARE AND FUTURE SYSTEMS

Location: Theatre A

SHIPBUILDING AND AUTONOMOUS SYSTEMS

Location: Theatre B

DIGITAL, TARGETING AND INNOVATION

Location: Theatre C

SUBMARINE TECHNOLOGY AND SPECIAL OPERATIONS

Location: Theatre D

AUTONOMOUS SYSTEMS AND UNDERSEA WARFARE

Location: Theatre E

SUBSEA AND SEABED WARFARE

Location: Theatre F

In association with

NAVAL OPERATIONS IN CONTESTED ENVIRONMENTS

SURFACE FLEET AUTONOMY SITUATIONAL AWARENESS NEXT GENERATION PROGRAMMES UNDERWATER BATTLESPACE

MAJOR PROGRAMMES

1405 - Chairman’s opening remarks Rear Admiral (Ret’d) James Parkin, Former Director Develop, Royal Navy

1405 - Chairman’s opening remarks Rear Admiral (Ret’d) Torben Mikkelsen, Former Admiral Danish Fleet, Royal Danish Navy

1405 - Chairman’s opening remarks Catarina Buchatskiy, Director of Analytics, Snake Island Institute

1405 - Chairman’s opening remarks Vice Admiral (Ret’d) Jeffrey Trussler, Former Deputy Chief of the Naval Operations for Information Warfare, US Navy

1405 - Chairman’s opening remarks Commodore (Ret’d) David Burton, Director, NATO ASW Barrier Programme

1405 - Chairman’s opening remarks Commodore (Ret’d) Philip Nash, Former Deputy Director Combined Joint Operations from the Sea COE, Royal Navy

1415 - NAD Group Strategy Vice Admiral Paul Marshall, Director General of Options and Commissioning, MOD NAD Group

1415 - 1 Year of the NAD Group - how maritime companies are helping DE&S deliver defence industrial strategy ● Strengthening the UK maritime

industrial base ● Supporting sovereign capability

Air Vice-Marshal (Ret’d) Keith Bethell, Director Maritime Environment, DE&S

1415 - Lessons from the War in the Black Sea ● Unique insight into the maritime

conflict in the Black Sea ● What nations may need to make

themselves more ready for warfighting

● Seeking industry solutions to these modern problem sets

Commodore Steven Banfield, Co-Leader Maritime Capability Coalition for Ukraine, Royal Navy

Commodore Thomas Andersen, Co-Leader Maritime Capability Coalition for Ukraine, Royal Norwegian Navy

1415 - An alliance for availability: long-term collaboration for multi-theatre dominance ● Political commitment from

announcements to delivery confidence

● Moving from national to international focus for build and availability

● Collaboration on innovation and technology

Annabelle Ransome-Willams, Programme Director SSN-AUKUS, Submarine Delivery Agency

1415 - ASW and MCM superiority - Future modernisation of Royal Netherlands Navy ● Current progress for MCM and ASW

ships ● Future programmes for RNLN ● Future plans to develop uncrewed

and autonomous capabilities Captain Joost Meesters, Head of Maritime Projects, Netherlands COMMIT

1415 - Developing strategic underwater resilience: The EU Path to protecting critical seabed assets ● Future EU seabed protection

initiative ● Joint future procurement to

enhance underwater maritime domain awareness

● Developing a coordinated approach to European underwater security

Jürgen Scraback, Head Maritime Domain Unit, European Defence Agency

1440 - Industry presentation Hosted by ABB

1440 - Industry presentation Hosted by NVL

1440 - Industry presentation Hosted by VITEC

1440 - Industry presentation Hosted by Babcock International Group

1440 - Industry presentation Hosted by General Dynamics

1440 - Industry presentation Hosted by Kongsberg

Page 6 of 17

Day One: Tuesday 19th May 2026

1505 - Blue water ambitions: China’s drive for a world class navy ● China seeks to build a world class

navy but what does this mean? ● What navy is China building and

why? ● Implications for nations around the

world Captain (ret.) Christopher Sharman, Director of China Maritime Studies Institute, US Naval War College

1505 - Future of the RNLN - The role of uncrewed systems-of-systems from an operational naval warfighting perspective ● Future vision for seven naval

warfare areas being developed by The Royal Netherlands Navy

● Deploying a systems-of-systems of platforms, people and systems to increase naval combat power

● Further development requires a continuous coupling of innovations

Bas Buchner, Project Director Maritime Uncrewed, Royal Netherlands Navy

1505 - The Black Sea’s Asymmetric Blueprint: Operational Lessons from Ukraine for 21st-Century Naval Forces ● SII’s analytical report

co-developed with Ukraine’s active-duty military units and sea drone operators

● The report serves as a learning point for Western Naval forces, based on Ukraine’s experience in asymmetric naval warfare without a traditional fleet

Catarina Buchatskiy, Director of Analytics, Snake Island Institute

1505 - OCCAR U212 NFS Submarine Programme status update ● Programme status ● Key challenges and future plans ● Role as a technology and capability

incubator Captain Decio Trinca, U212 Programme Manager, OCCAR

1505 - TF X Baltic - From foresight to warfight: NATO ACT’s approach for rapid capability delivery ● Innovation is more than just

procuring new tech: it is a capability in itself

● TFX Baltic showed we can deliver a capability blueprint in under a year

● How did we do this? Counter-clockwise approach, bringing in EDTs directly into the OpEX format

● Future of NATO Innovation Network

Bart Hollants, Chairman- NATO Innovation, NATO Allied Command Transformation

1505 - Unmanned Undersea Vehicle Group One operational overview ● Submarine hosted and deployed

robotics & autonomous systems ● Confidence course overview - Data

management and AI/ML ● Non-submarine hosted robotic and

autonomous systems Captain Mike Dolbec, Commodore - UUVGRUV, US Navy

1530 - Afternoon coffee and networking Hosted by Bardex

MARITIME SECURITY IN CONTESTED ENVIRONMENTS

AUTONOMOUS SYSTEMS IMPACT OF SPACE ON THE NAVAL DOMAIN

ENABLING COMPLEX PROGRAMMES

AUKUS PILLAR 2 MCM MOTHERSHIP CONCEPT

1615 - Red Sea Security: Stress testing naval alliances ● Alliance assessments past, present,

and future ● Strengthening global coalitions ● Building on lessons learnt from past

conflicts Commodore Sheikh Mubarak Ali Al-Sabah, General Director of the General Directorate of the Kuwait Coast Guard, Kuwait Coast Guard

Vice Admiral Curt Renshaw, Commander U.S. Navy 5th Fleet, US Navy

1615 - PROJECT EUROGUARD: Launching the first of a class of remotely operated and semi-autonomous vessels ● How EU EDF connect companies

across Europe to develop desired solutions

● EUROGUARD hull launch May 2026 and advancements

● The endless struggle of connecting military end-users with new innovation

Kuno Peek, Project Manager, Estonian Centre for Defence Investments

1615 - The Impact of space capabilities on the naval domain ● Use of Space for ISR and maritime

domain awareness ● Enabling secure communications and

targeting ● Future plans and advancements Commodore Anthony Williams, Head of Capability, UK Space Command

1615 - Future of Submarine Rescue - Italian Navy ● Current threat environment ● Current progress of ongoing

programme ● Future DRASS submarine rescue

capabilities for the Italian Navy Commander Cristiano Raffele Martino, Chief of the 1st Section - Propulsion Systems, Italian Naval Armaments Directorate

1615 - Leveraging AUKUS to maintain our advantage in the undersea domain

● AUKUS pillar 2 ● Utilising underwater uncrewed

systems ● From SSN combat systems to MPA

and utilising AI Dan Packer, AUKUS Director- Commander Submarine Forces, US Navy

Commodore Marcus Rose, Deputy Director Underwater Battlespace Capability, Royal Navy

Commodore Michael Turner, Director General Maritime Integrated Capabilities, Royal Australian Navy

1615 - Belgian-Dutch MCM replacement programme

● CONOPs ● Contract, scope and product ● Current challenges and

opportunities Commander Pierre Van Engeland, Project Manager rMCM, Belgian Navy

1640 - Industry presentation Hosted by GE Vernova

1640 - Industry presentation Hosted by Frazer Nash

1640 - Industry presentation Hosted by Bardex

1640 - Industry presentation Hosted by Exail

Page 7 of 17

Day One: Tuesday 19th May 2026

1705 - Industry presentation Hosted by Rhode & Schwarz

1705 - V & V Framework and techniques for evaluation of USV navigation autonomy ● Current state of USV V & V

techniques ● Challenges and gaps identified ● DSTA-COMMIT-MARIN

collaboration ● Insight and recommended way

ahead Lew Ee Kent, Head Capability Development - Unmanned Maritime Systems, Singapore DSTA

Commander J. Bremer, Head Unmanned and Autonomous Systems, NL COMMIT

1705 - Development of space-based maritime surveillance in the High North: The Norwegian approach ● The Norwegian Joint Headquarters

has used space based radar imaging for maritime surveillance since 1998.

● Norway’s first maritime surveillance satellite was launched in 2010. Since then, Norway has continued to develop sovereign space capabilities in a three-way cooperation between the Armed forces, the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment and Norwegian space industry.

● This presentation presents the current status, with some lessons learned, and some perspectives on future development

Richard Olsen, Director of Research, Space, Norwegian Defence Research Establishment

1705 - Delivering submarine capability to Canada ● Canadian submarine requirements ● Charting a procurement pathway ● Enhancing creativity and discipline

across the service Captain Martin Byrne, Director Naval Major Crown Projects - Submarines, Royal Canadian Navy

1705 - Industry presentation Hosted by RTsys

1705 - Procuring the generation of UK Mine Hunting Capability - MHC Block 2 ● Reporting progress on mission

system integration, a new family of remote command centres and increased focus on data exploitation

● Moving forward with the first elements of Block 2 - A minimum deployable capability

● Working with Norway to procure dedicated host platforms - The MHC offshore support vessels

● Updating industry on Spiral 1 and the next set of opportunities

Andy Lapsley, Team Lead MHC, UK MoD DE&S

Bill Biggs, Systems of Systems Architect, UK MoD DE&S

1730 - Chairman’s closing remarks Rear Admiral (Ret’d) James Parkin, Former Director Develop, Royal Navy

1730 - Chairman’s closing remarks Rear Admiral (Ret’d) Torben Mikkelsen, Former Admiral Danish Fleet, Royal Danish Navy

1730 - Chairman’s closing remarks Catarina Buchatskiy, Director of Analytics, Snake Island Institute

1730 - Chairman’s closing remarks Vice Admiral (Ret’d) Jeffrey Trussler, Former Deputy Chief of the Naval Operations for Information Warfare, US Navy

1730 - Chairman’s closing remarks Commodore (Ret’d) David Burton, Director, NATO ASW Barrier Programme

1730 - Chairman’s closing remarks Commodore (Ret’d) Philip Nash, Former Deputy Director Combined Joint Operations from the Sea COE, Royal Navy

1735 - Evening drinks reception Hosted by NVL B.V. & C o. KG

1915 - Hall closes

Page 8 of 17

Day Two: Wednesday 20th May 2026

0615 - ≈5km Morning run Leaving from Aviator Hotel

SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE

0800 - Registration and exhibition opens Sponsored by Babcock International Group

0800 - Morning coffee SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE

SURFACE WARFARE AND FUTURE SYSTEMS

Location: Theatre A

SHIPBUILDING AND AUTONOMOUS SYSTEMS

Location: Theatre B

DIGITAL, TARGETING AND INNOVATION

Location: Theatre C

SUBMARINE TECHNOLOGY AND SPECIAL OPERATIONS

Location: Theatre D

AUTONOMOUS SYSTEMS AND UNDERSEA WARFARE

Location: Theatre E

SUBSEA AND SEABED WARFARE

Location: Theatre F

In association with

NATIONAL FLEET STRATEGIES BUILDING THE FUTURE NAVY AS AN ALLIANCE

HIGH NORTH SURVEILLANCE FUTURE INNOVATIONS DEPLOYING UNDERWATER AUTONOMOUS SYSTEMS

PROTECTING SEA LINES OF COMMUNICATION

0850 - Chairman’s opening remarks Rear Admiral (ret’d) James Parkin, Former Director Develop, Royal Navy

0850 - Chairman’s opening remarks Rear Admiral (ret’d) Torben Mikkelsen, Former Admiral Danish Fleet, Royal Danish Navy

0850 - Chairman’s opening remarks Catarina Buchatskiy, Director of Analytics, Snake Island Institute

0850 - Chairman’s opening remarks Vice Admiral (Ret’d) Jeffrey Trussler, Former Deputy Chief of the Naval Operations for Information Warfare, US Navy

0850 - Chairman’s opening remarks Commodore (Ret’d) David Burton, Director, NATO ASW Barrier Programme

0850 - Chairman’s opening remarks Commodore (Ret’d) Philip Nash, Former Deputy Director Combined Joint Operations from the Sea COE, Royal Navy

0900 - Challenges towards a naval capability transformation ● Creating the conditions for rapid

innovation: REPMUS and beyond ● Uncrewed systems and the drone

mothership ● Improving national infrastructure

for shipbuilding and innovation Rear Admiral Antonio Mateus, Deputy National Armaments Director, Portuguese Ministry of Defence

0900 - Countering the challenges of modern navies today and beyond - Developing strategic partnerships ● Challenges of manning, maintaining

and developing a modern navy ● Dual-use solutions for effective

operations ● Integration and implementation Commodore Kyrre Haugen, Fleet Commander, Royal Norwegian Navy

0900 - Surveillance and task in the GIUK Gap ● Icelandic Coast Guard priorities ● Challenges in building situational

awareness within Icelandic waters ● Coast Guard defence duties and

tasks Captain Audunn Kristinsson, Director of Operations and Strategic Planning, Icelandic Coast Guard

0900 - Additive manufacturing solution to obsolescence and supply chain challenges: UK Submarine Delivery Agency future strategy

● UK SDA has been exploiting additive manufacturing across multiple programmes

● Obsolescence is an issue for all defence programmes that can impact platform availability

● Additive manufacturing is an innovative option to augment the current supply chain in the SDA

Caryl Russell, Head Platform Equipment Delivery Team, Submarine Delivery Agency

0900 - Panel Discussion - How do we effectively deploy uncrewed systems for underwater surveillance? Captain Mike Dolbec, Commodore - UUVGRUV, US Navy

Captain Joost Meesters, Head of Maritime Projects, Netherlands COMMIT

Rear Admiral Angus Essenhigh, National Hydrographer & Director Data Acquisition and Defence, UK Hydrographic Office

Sam Vye, CEO & Founder, Syos Aerospace

0900 - Fireside chat - ‘The Black Sea Alliance’, countering naval threats in the Black Sea ● Black Sea Alliance for MCM ● Protecting freedom of navigation in the

Black Sea ● Enhancing interoperability and

safeguarding civilian shipping from naval sea mines

Rear Admiral Özgür Ekren, Commander of Istanbul Strait Component and CTF Black Sea, Turkish Naval Forces

Rear Admiral Cornel-Eugen Cojocaru, Fleet Commander, Romanian Navy

0925 - Industry presentation Hosted by Airbus

0925 - Industry presentation Hosted by BAE Systems

0925 - Industry presentation Hosted by IAI

0925 - Industry presentation Tim Anderson, Director Government SaaS, Terradepth

Page 9 of 17

Day Two: Wednesday 20th May 2026

0950 - Going above 2% defence spending: The future of the Royal Danish Navy ● New vessel procurement ● Testing and developing

unmanned systems ● Integration of new technology Commodore Claus Lundholm Andersen, Director of Naval Program, Danish Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organisation

0950 - Lessons learnt from Operation HIGHMAST ● Path towards CSG 29 ● Uncrewed systems integration ● Collaboration with allies in the

Indo-Pacific and NATO Rear Admiral Antony Rimington, Director Force Generation, Royal Navy

0950 - Royal Navy’s Maritime Domain Awareness Programme ● Collect, understand, exploit

maritime information ● Utilising advanced analytical

capabilities Captain Des Hirons, Deputy Director RNMDA, Royal Navy

0950 - Suffren class submarine programme

● Current progress of the construction of submarines

● Progress of the transition from the old Rubis to the new generation of SSNs

● Remaining work of the surrounding programmes (infrastructure, DDS, heavy torpedo F21)

Commander Peu-Duvallon, Barracuda Program Manager - SSN Class, French Navy Headquarters (EMM)

0950 - Industry presentation Hosted by BAE Systems

0950 - Industry presentation Hosted by Helsing

1015 - Morning coffee and networking Hosted by Palantir

ASYMMETRIC CAPABILITIES AIRCRAFT CARRIER

PROGRAMMES INCREASING THE TEMPO OF

INNOVATION LITTORAL STRIKE ASW AS A SERVICE MODULAR CAPABILITIES

1100 - Royal Navy Disruptive Capabilities and Technologies Office Brigadier Jaimie Roylance RM, Chief Technology Officer, Royal Navy

1100 - Turkish Navy Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (MUGEM) programme ● Design project office and design

philosophy of Turkish Navy ● Strategic role: power projection,

sea control and allied maritime security

● Combat systems and sensors Rear Admiral Hakan Ucar, Commander of the Naval Technical Command, Turkish Navy

1100 - Deploying capital for maritime innovation ● Introduction to the NIF, what we do

and what we can offer ● Priority investment areas;

autonomy, uncrewed systems and advanced manufacturing

● How capital is directed: venture investments alongside allies, partnering with start ups

Patrick Schneider-Sikorsky, Founding Partner, NATO Innovation Fund

1100 - Low profile and semi submersibles vessels: Applications for maritime special operation forces

● Emergence of innovative solutions for maritime mobility in denied maritime spaces

● How to best operate low-profile vessels and semi submersible vessels in maritime special operations

● Insights on capability development and the adoptions of these vessels

Commander Ricardo Pereira da Silva, Staff Officer for Expeditionary Operations, NATO Combined Joint Operations from the Sea Centre of Excellence

1100 - Atlantic Bastion - A new way of finding submarines ● Future of Royal Navy undersea

warfare ● Hybrid force for undersea warfare in

the North Atlantic ● Using crewed and uncrewed

systems for ASW Commodore Marcus Rose, Deputy Director Underwater Battlespace Capability, Royal Navy

1100 - Belgian-Dutch rMCM Programme, a Paradigm Shift in Mine Warfare

● Why rMCM is both an evolution and a revolution

● Systems of systems open architecture

● Readiness for modern warfare scenarios

● Future proof concept Captain Kurt Engelen, Director Centre for Security and Defence Studies, Royal Belgian Navy

1125 - Industry presentation Hosted by Navantia

1125 - Industry presentation Hosted by BMT

1125 - Industry presentation Hosted by Echandia

1125 - Industry presentation Hosted by Frazer Nash

1125 - Industry presentation Hosted by Teledyne Marine

1125 - Industry presentation Hosted by HII

Page 10 of 17

Day Two: Wednesday 20th May 2026

1125 - UK Commando Forces: Enabling strike and advantage in the high north ● Commando forces as critical

enabler of all Royal Navy outputs ● Role in the atlantic series of

operations ● Shifting risk away from high-value

assets and onto the adversary Brigadier Jaimie Norman, Commanding Officer 3 Commando Brigade, Royal Marines Commandos

1150 - Building France’s Next Generation Aircraft Carrier ● A ship overview ● An ambitious building process ● An aircraft carrier, a drone and

smart carrier Commander Gabriel de Roquefeuil, PA-Ng Programme Officer, French Navy

1150 - Integrating Multi-role USVs into hybrid point defence in littoral waters

● Overall study objectives and management

● Operational requirements and delivering effective point defence capability

● Sensors, effectors and C3 ● Platform options and concept

development ● Flexibility, sustainability,

maintainability, safety and legality

● Initial findings and acquisition challenges

● Accelerated initial operating capability and the future

Commander (ret’d) Dickie Burston RN, Chairman NIAG SG315, NATO Industrial Advisory Group

1150 - ‘Not everything can be done by machines’ - the enduring role of divers in undersea warfare

● Undersea warfare ● Submarine covert deployment ● Special forces Commander Rory Armstrong, Commanding Officer - Diving and Threat Exploitation Group, Royal Navy

1150 - ASW in North Atlantic - The age of multi-domain operations and hybrid navies ● Evolving Russian submarines and

underwater capabilities constitute a pacing threat - the ‘fourth battle of the Atlantic has begun

● Russian capability designed to disrupt allied reinforcement remains a hindrance to FoN for the alliance

● Norway & UK combined and interchangeable ASW capability using a combination of sensors, warships, aircraft and new tech - this is called the Atlantic Bastion Concept

Captain Daniel Thomassen, Commander 1st Frigate Squadron, Royal Norwegian Navy

1150 - Automatic target recognition technology for MCM AUVs - Future of Japan’s MCM capabilities ● Japan’s shift to autonomous

systems in MCM ● Operating MCM AUVs using both

HF and LF synthetic aperture sonars, results of sea trials

● Using ML to automatically detect and classify mines, including in buried and contested conditions

Chihiro Hirari, Research Staff - Unmanned Maritime Vehicle Research Section, Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency (ATLA)

1215 - Lunch and networking SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE

1215 - Lunch and networking Hosted by CUBEDIN

1215 - Lunch and networking SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE

SUSTAINING OPERATIONS RENEWING THE FLEET MARITIME SECURITY OPERATING IN THE LITTORAL DEFENDING THE GIUK GAP & HIGH NORTH

MINE WARFARE AS A STRATEGIC DETERRENT

1345 - The Royal Fleet Auxiliary - the war fighting enabler ● The RFA in recent operations ● Sustaining the current fleet ● Evolving the RFA to meet the

demands of the future Commodore Sam Shattock, Head of Service and Commodore of the RFA, Royal Fleet Auxiliary

1345 - The HORIZON mid life upgrade and FREMM Programmes ● Introduction to OCCAR ● FREMM frigates & Horizon class

capabilities ● Considerations and conclusion Lorenzo Raciti, Programme Manager, OCCAR Sebastien Le Bouter, Deputy Programme Manager, OCCAR

1345 - Maritime Security Update - from the Caribbean Sea to the Indian Ocean ● Persistent surveillance capabilities ● Collaboration with commercial

shipping ● Update on Houthi attacks on

shipping in the Red Sea Commander Thomas Scalabre, Commander of MICA Centre, French Navy

1345 - Fireside chat - Building future submarine capability - Operational and industrial lessons learnt from the German-Norwegian submarine ● 212CD submarine from a Navy

perspective ● Submarine service to submarine

service cooperation ● Current developments Captain Jim Robertsen, Head of the Norwegian Submarine Service, Royal Norwegian Navy

Commander SG Kai Nickelsdorf, Commander 1st Submarine Squadron, German Navy

1345 - Defending the GIUK Gap - Lessons learnt from Royal Danish Navy activities in ASW

● Russian submarine threat in the GIUK Gap

● Lessons learnt from ASW operations

● Future capabilities for effective operations

Captain Thomas Stig Rasmussen, Commander of the 2nd Squadron, Royal Danish Navy

1345 - Finland – “Superpower” of naval mine warfare ● Strategic mine laying ● Naval mine warfare systems ● Mine laying capability ● Naval Mine Cooperation Commander SG (ret’d) Rami Keinänen, Programme Manager - Navy Command, Finnish Navy

Page 11 of 17

Day Two: Wednesday 20th May 2026

1410 - Industry presentation Hosted by SH Defence

1410 - Industry presentation Hosted by Plasan

1410 - Industry presentation Hosted by IAI

1435 - Industry presentation Hosted by Gabler

1410 - Industry presentation Hosted by Cellula

1410 - Industry presentation Hosted by Kraken Robotics

1435 - Ensure operational availability and performance of Naval Assets - Maintain and enhance new capabilities in an ever growing competitive environment ● Overlook on current support

organisation - from mainland and to the area of operations

● Secure logistics flows and consolidate support responsiveness throughout the support chain

● Lessons identified and learned: operational feedback from new technology integration

● Future plans Commander Mathieu Girardot, Deputy Vice-Director Technical Sub-Directorate, French Navy Fleet Support Service

1435 - Royal New Zealand Navy Fleet Renewal Programme ● Transformation and the building of

a resilient naval system ● The programme’s principles ● Future options with a fleet of

crewed and uncrewed platforms Commodore Brendon Clark, Co-Director Maritime Fleet Renewal, Royal New Zealand Navy

1435 - US Navy Robotic and Autonomous Systems Employment in Europe and Africa ● Research and development of

systems vs employment ● Improving acquisition speed ● Allied collaboration and breaking

down barriers to RAS employment ● Continuous future operations of

unmanned systems to fill gaps in allied defences

Rear Admiral Kelly Ward, Commander US Naval Forces EU-AF, Commander Task Force 66, US Navy

1435 - Canada’s role in maritime security in the high north ● Unmanned and autonomous

systems are essential to improving underwater MDA

● Recent events in the Baltic and SCS highlight the vulnerabilities associated with CUI and underwater surveillance

● CUI is not purely a naval problem - it requires a whole of government approach

Captain Robert Watt, Director of Naval Strategy, Royal Canadian Navy

1435 - Moving from a post war to pre war footing - Future strategy for Royal Danish Navy's naval mine laying capability ● Current maritime threat environment ● Responding to hybrid threats to CUI

and Russian aggression ● Danish historical and future

deployment of naval sea mines ● Mine warfare for the strategic

protection of ports and sea lines of communication

Commander Dr. Johannes Riber, Military Analyst, Royal Danish Defence Academy

1500 - Afternoon coffee and networking G3 Systems Limited

OVERCOMING THE TYRANNY OF DISTANCE

SHIP PROGRAMMES DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION HOSTILE NAVIES AND EMERGING THREATS

EVOLVING UNDERSEA WARFARE CAPABILITIES

SEABED WARFARE

1545 - Assured Sealift and maritime logistics: Enabling joint operations across Europe and Africa ● Overview of task and AOR ● Operations throughout 2025 ● Future developments and plans

Captain Bill Miante, Deputy Commodore TF63, Military Sealift Command Europe and Africa, US Navy

1545 - European Combat Vessel - The future ships for Europe ● European Combat Vessel as a

modular family of small, medium, and large combatants

● Future-ready, adaptable design for evolving missions and threats

● NATO-compatible interoperability with advanced sensors, communications, and weapons

Jürgen Scraback, Head Maritime Domain Unit, European Defence Agency

1545 - Operating in a digitally transparent battlespace ● Working in the littoral is complicated

by connectivity ● Drones are only the start of the

challenge ● Cyber capabilities will not be

enough to support you ● You will need much closer shore

based support ● It will be impossible to control the

information environment ● Noise will be your friend Dr Matthew Ford, Associate Professor, Swedish Defence University

1545 - Preparing for the Dreadnought and SSN AUKUS class - Clyde 2070 future vision ● Strengthening national security -

delivering a warfighting ready naval base to house the continuous at Sea deterrent

● Enhancing lives and capability - improving training environment for personnel at HMNB Clyde

● Driving regional growth and strengthening investment into West of Scotland

Andrew Tims, Deputy Director Clyde Capital Programme, Royal Navy

1545 - Manned-unmanned teaming’ - ROK Navy Sea Ghost Programme ● Developing manned and unmanned

teaming for maritime operations ● Deploying UUVs for combat

operations ● Delivering unmanned capabilities at

pace Captain Chongsu Lim, Director of Integrated Warfare Systems Division - ROK HQ, ROK Navy

1545 - The Norwegian model for effective CUI - Enhancing surveillance and deterrence ● Current threat environment in the

North Atlantic ● Developing a whole of government

approach - resilience and redundancy

● Reducing adversary ability through deniability

● Developing civilian-military information sharing

Commodore Kyrre Haugen, Fleet Commander, Royal Norwegian Navy

Page 12 of 17

Day Two: Wednesday 20th May 2026

1610 - Industry presentation Hosted by IAI

1610 - Industry presentation Hosted by SEA

1610 - Industry presentation Hosted by Safran

1610 - Industry presentation Hosted by Thales

1610 - Industry presentation Hosted by Anduril

1610 - Industry presentation Hosted by DSG

1635 - Update on Maritime Aviation transformation and the route to a hybrid air wing ● MATX - embedded in Defence

planning ● Exploiting experience and

preparing to scale-up at pace ● From RPAS to ACP -

operationalising for the fight ● Defence reform - the opportunity

to do things differently Commodore Steve Bolton, Deputy Director Aviation Programmes and Futures, Royal Navy

1635 - Advances in the naval industry and the modernisation of the naval fleet to meet new challenges ● Mission, vision and scenery ● Main threats and challenges ● Our roles ● Advances in strengthening and

development of the naval industry ● Advantages of naval construction

for the country ● Construction of a modern naval

force Rear Admiral Belisario Zagazeta, Director Naval Projects, Peruvian Navy

1635 - EU Maritime Surveillance - MARSUR III programme ● Federated maritime situational

awareness under full Member State control

● Multi-domain integration (surface, underwater, seabed data)

● EU SECRET–capable, NATO-interoperable, operationally validated system

Jürgen Scraback, Head Maritime Domain Unit, European Defence Agency

1635 - Naval developments in China and Russia ● Latest developments in submarines,

naval drones and relevant warships ● Areas where China is taking the

lead H I Sutton, OSINT Analyst, Covert Shores

1635 - Shift to underwater warfighting capability - Royal Australian Navy shift to integrated maritime uncrewed systems ● Integrating maritime uncrewed

systems ● Undersea warfare initiatives ● Future plans for the underwater

domain Commodore Michael Turner, Director General Maritime Integrated Capabilities, Royal Australian Navy

1635 - French Navy’s future vision for seabed warfare capabilities ● Mastering crewed and uncrewed

capabilities ● Enabling effective seabed warfare

operations ● Ambition for future seabed warfare

capabilities Captain Hugues Vallette, Seabed Warfare Coordinator, French Navy

1700 - Chairman’s closing remarks Rear Admiral (ret’d) James Parkin, Former Director Develop, Royal Navy

1700 - Chairman’s closing remarks Rear Admiral (ret’d) Torben Mikkelsen, Former Admiral Danish Fleet, Royal Danish Navy

1700 - Chairman’s closing remarks Catarina Buchatskiy, Director of Analytics, Snake Island Institute

1700 - Chairman’s closing remarks Vice Admiral (Ret’d) Jeffrey Trussler, Former Deputy Chief of the Naval Operations for Information Warfare, US Navy

1700 - Chairman’s closing remarks Commodore (Ret’d) David Burton, Director, NATO ASW Barrier Programme

1700 - Chairman’s closing remarks Commodore (Ret’d) Philip Nash, Former Deputy Director Combined Joint Operations from the Sea COE, Royal Navy

1705 - Evening drinks reception Hosted by ABB Marine

1705 - Evening drinks reception Hosted by Aeromaritime Systembau GmbH

1705 - Evening drinks reception SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE

1915 - Hall closes

Page 13 of 17

Day Three: Thursday 21st May 2026

_NAVY FORUMS_

Navy Leaders are delighted to introduce our new NAVY FORUMS format that will bring military commanders, policy makers, subject matter experts, academia and industry together to address some of the most pressing issues for the community. The format combines focused presentations from experts, a moderated panel discussion and practical workshops with each element supporting frank exchanges and shared learning.

NAVY BUSINESS FORUM | THEATRE D NAVY PEOPLE FORUM | THEATRE C

Moderated by: Rear Admiral (Ret’d) James Parkin, Former Director Develop, Royal Navy Moderated by:

0930 - 1100

Selling to the MOD

This practical working group session will explain how the Ministry of Defence buys capability and how suppliers can engage effectively. It covers key decision makers, procurement routes and commercial requirements. Attendees will learn how to shape clear value propositions, align with naval capability priorities and work confidently with defence customers.

2 x SPONSORSHIPS AVAILABLE

Panelists:

Vice Admiral Paul Beattie CBE, Second Sea Lord, Royal Navy

Jim Carter, Director General Commercial and Industry, MOD NAD Group

Office for Small Business Growth, UK Ministry of Defence

0930 - 1100

Under pressure; Mental wellness and human factors on operations

Extended high-tempo deployments test the limits of concentration, judgement and mental resilience. Fleets rely on crews who can endure pressure without loss of effectiveness. This session brings together human factors specialists, clinicians, operational leaders and service charities to look at how fatigue, workload, stress and isolation influence human performance and will set out practical measures for keeping personnel operationally effective and resilient.

2 x SPONSORSHIPS AVAILABLE

Presentations from: Commodore Ben Haskins CBE, Commander Submarine Flotilla, Royal Navy

Centre of Military Health Research, Kings College London

1115 - 1245

Selling to primes This working group focuses on how to approach and work with major defence primes. It examines how primes identify opportunities, how suppliers can engage, and what qualification criteria matter. Attendees will gain practical insight into partnership models and how to match technologies or products to programme needs.

2 x SPONSORSHIPS AVAILABLE

Panelists invited to participate:

1115 - 1245

People power; Future skills and training This working group covers current and future training demands across naval roles. It assesses gaps in technical and digital skills and reviews modern training tools, including simulation and adaptive learning. It sets out approaches to develop competent, confident personnel who can operate advanced platforms and systems.

2 x SPONSORSHIPS AVAILABLE

Presentations from: Lieutenant Commander Toni Harding, FutureNEST Royal Navy Rep, Royal Navy

Fleet Operational Standards and Training, Royal Navy

1400 - 1530

How to get investment

This working group looks at how to attract investment for defence innovation. It covers how to position a defence proposition, meet investor expectations and demonstrate market potential. Attendees will learn how to approach venture capital firms, build credible relationships and work effectively with investors.

2 x SPONSORSHIPS AVAILABLE

Panelists:

Defence Investors Advisory Group, UK Ministry of Defence

Patrick Schneider-Sikorsky, Senior Partner, NATO Innovation Fund

Page 14 of 17

Day Three: Thursday 21st May 2026

0800 - Registration and exhibition opens Hosted by Babcock International Group

0800 - Morning coffee SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE

Location: Theatre B 0855 - Chairman’s opening remarks

Rear Admiral (ret’d) James Parkin, Former Director Develop, Royal Navy

0900 - Ministerial Address

Luke Pollard, Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, UK Government

SURFACE WARFARE AND FUTURE SYSTEMS Location: Theatre A

SHIPBUILDING AND AUTONOMOUS SYSTEMS Location: Theatre B

AUTONOMOUS SYSTEMS AND UNDERSEA WARFARE Location: Theatre E

SUBSEA AND SEABED WARFARE Location: Theatre F

In association with

ENSURING MARITIME SECURITY IN GREY ZONE WARFARE

INCREASING SHIPBUILDING CAPACITY MAJOR PROGRAMMES SUBSEA SURVELLIANCE

0925 - Chairman’s opening remarks Commodore (Ret’d) Philip Nash, Former Deputy Director Combined Joint Operations from the Sea COE, Royal Navy

0925 - Chairman’s opening remarks Rear Admiral (ret’d) Torben Mikkelsen, Former Admiral Danish Fleet, Royal Danish Navy

0925 - Chairman’s opening remarks Vice Admiral (Ret’d) Jeffrey Trussler, Former Deputy Chief of the Naval Operations for Information Warfare, US Navy

0925 - Chairman’s opening remarks Commodore (Ret’d) David Burton, Director, NATO ASW Barrier Programme

0930 - From Preparedness to Response: Addressing Grey-Zone Threats in the Maritime Domain ● The maritime domain has become a permanent frontline ● Maritime Domain Awareness: Decisive only when

shared ● Clear jurisdiction and executable legal powers enable

early response ● Response requires assets in high readiness ● Intelligence and risk-based analysis turn awareness into

action ● Adaptability depends on cooperation beyond

governments Vice Admiral Markku Hassinen, Chief of the Border Guard, Finnish Border Guard

0930 - Autonomy, sustainability and resilience: The future of British Shipbuilding ● UK’s Maritime Technology Action Plan ● Type 26 deal with Norway ● UK shipbuilding pipeline, autonomous systems,

sustainability and industrial readiness Commodore Jon Carrigan, Deputy Director, National Shipbuilding Office UK

0930 - JMSDF 2035 vision for UxVs and UUVs ● Future maritime defence concept ● Direction for securing undersea superiority ● Operation for securing undersea superiority Captain Masahiko Ito, Director of Systems Programs Division, Japanese Maritime Self Defence Forces

0930 - Security of shipping and protecting critical undersea infrastructure

● Military role against non-military threats ● Breaking down sector silos - comprehensive approach

to countering hybrid threats ● Operational cooperation with industry Captain Niels Markussen, Director NATO Shipping Centre & NATO Maritime Centre for the Security of Critical Undersea Infrastructure, NATO MARCOM

0955 - Industry presentation Hosted by Davie

0955 - Industry presentation Hosted by Leonardo

0955 - Industry presentation Hosted by Ultra Maritime

0955 - Industry presentation Hosted by Thales

Page 15 of 17

Day Three: Thursday 21st May 2026

1020 - Maritime Security Situation in the Black Sea ● Current maritime situation environment in the Black

and its impact on regional security ● Key challenges and threats affecting naval operations

and freedom of navigation ● Operational lessons identified from recent

developments and activities ● The role of allied and partner naval cooperation in

addressing shared security concerns ● Future perspectives and priorities in enhancing

maritime security in the Black Sea region Rear Admiral Cornel-Eugen Cojocaru, Fleet Commander, Romanian Navy

1020 - Commercial ship conversion for defence ● Militarising a commercial ship ● Rapid capability insertion pitfalls ● Schedule vs engineering vs safety ● Implementing a HV policy

Trevor McKerlich, Electrical Power & Distribution Engineer, DE&S at Royal Fleet Auxiliary

1020 - Countering underwater threats in the Baltic Sea - Sweden’s future procurement and capabilities for undersea warfare ● Assessing the current threat environment in the Baltic

Sea ● Building Sweden’s future undersea warfare capabilities ● The rise of maritime uncrewed systems in the

underwater domain Ulrik Sköldkvist, Project Manager UW Weapons Systems, Swedish FMV

1020 - MCM next - Purpose built design for the MCM force of the future

● US MCM force design has been an evolutionary process

● MCMTD is currently working a ‘tabula rasa’ approach to US MCM force design

● Lessons learnt and deliberate approach to capability, costs, sensors, modality and force structure

Captain Scott Hattaway, Director - Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Centre Mine Countermeasures Technical Division, US Navy

1045 - Morning coffee and networking SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE

DELIVERING FUTURE SURFACE COMBATANTS NAVAL BASE TRANSFORMATION DELIVERING AT PACE FUTURE SEABED CAPABILITIES

1130 - Future above water capability and surface ships ● Use of AI for shipbuilding ● Hunter class update ● New amphibious platforms ● Mogami class frigate update

Commodore Michael Turner, Director General Maritime Integrated Capabilities, Royal Australian Navy

1130 - Clyde X - Naval base innovations ● Developing an interconnected innovation landscape -

Connecting people and digital capabilities ● Turning lessons learnt into actionable action for

effective operations ● Marginal gains are hard-won not easy wins

Captain Paul Barker, Captain Clyde X, Royal Navy

1130 - Ready for war - Cooperation within NNCC and NATO ● Developments within uncrewed systems and autonomy ● Ongoing cases with the NATO Armament Group ● Industry’s relations to NATO Rear Admiral Paul Flos, Program Director International Maritime Materiel Cooperation and Chairman of NATO Naval Armament Group, Netherlands Ministry of Defence

1130 - Delivering transformative capabilities for Navy Acquisition - Introducing the Maritime Systems Group

● Mine Hunting Capability Update ● Future Offshore Support vessel programme and

cooperation with Norway ● Future Military Data Gathering (FMDG) and

Maritime Electronic Warfare (MEWP) programmes Commodore Michael Wood, Deputy Director Maritime Systems Group - Navy Acquisition, Royal Navy

1155 - Industry presentation Hosted by

1220 - How the NAD group is bringing new focus to SMEs role in Defence Acquisition Jim Carter, Director General Commercial and Industry, MOD NAD Group

1220 - Rapid Acquisition and delivery: Portsmouth Capability Accelerator ● Bringing innovators to the waterfront ● Delivering technology at scale to the warfighter ● Assurances by design ● Future plans to build a naval innovation hub Commodore Marcel Rosenburg, Naval Base Commander Portsmouth, Royal Navy

1220 - Anti-Torpedo Torpedo programme - A strategic leap in underwater defence ● Hard kill anti-torpedo solution ● EDA supported project - From prototype to series ● ATT will transform survivability, restore freedom of

manoeuver and strengthens collective maritime deterrence

Captain Ricardo Braz Freitas, Maritime Program Manager, European Defence Agency

1220 - Delivering FR/UK MMCM Capability – Progress, challenges and lessons learned ● Overview of the MMCM and its strategic importance ● Key milestones and current delivery status ● Managing delays, risk and contractual challenges ● Lessons learnt for future collaborative programmes John Sinclair, Commercial Officer - FR/UK Maritime Mine Counter Measures (MMCM) Programme Division, OCCAR-EA

1245 - Chairman’s closing remarks Commodore (Ret’d) Philip Nash, Former Deputy Director Combined Joint Operations from the Sea COE, Royal Navy

1245 - Chairman’s closing remarks Rear Admiral (ret’d) Torben Mikkelsen, Former Admiral Danish Fleet, Royal Danish Navy

1245 - Chairman’s closing remarks Vice Admiral (Ret’d) Jeffrey Trussler, Former Deputy Chief of the Naval Operations for Information Warfare, US Navy

1245 - Chairman’s closing remarks Commodore (Ret’d) David Burton, Director, NATO ASW Barrier Programme

Page 16 of 17

Day Three: Thursday 21st May 2026

1245 - Lunch and networking SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE

1245 - Lunch and networking Hosted by Leidos Innovations UK Ltd

1245 - Lunch and networking SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE

DIGITAL NAVY: THE ROLE OF ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES IN THE FUTURE FLEET Location: Theatre B

The recurring theme of discussions has been leveraging advanced technologies for increased operational effect in the maritime domain, be it quantum, big-data, AI or advanced manufacturing. It is clear that navies must embrace new technologies and evolve at pace to ensure overmatch at sea.

FUTURE OF UNDERWATER BATTLESPACE Location: Theatre F

This session offers an in-depth exploration of the strategic objectives, technological advancements, and geopolitics of the AUKUS security partnership. Pillar II emphasises collaborative development of advanced military capabilities, including AI, quantum technologies, hypersonics, and cyber.

1345 - From conflict lessons to capability: Aligning scientific diplomacy, R&D and allied capacity building ● Going backwards to go forwards: How naval and air defence strategies are changing in the drone age ● Decision integrity in contested C5ISR environments ● Capacity vs capability: Structuring cross regional Defence ● From prototype to Fleet: From modelling to operational doctrine across partnered naval forces ● AI, digital twins and institutional readiness: Assurances for fielding the unmanned fleet

Captain Ali Ashour, Senior Engineering Officer, Kuwait Coast Guard

1345 - UK submarine acquisition - Future plans Rear Admiral Paul Carroll OBE, Director Submarines Acquisition, Submarine Delivery Agency

1410 - Industry presentation Hosted by Navantia

1435 - Surface Closing Keynote Rear Admiral Matthew Stratton, Director Acquisition, Royal Navy

1410 - Industry presentation Hosted by Northropp Grumman

1435 - Subsurface closing keynote Vice Admiral Paul Beattie CBE, Second Sea Lord, Royal Navy

1500 - Chairman’s closing remarks Commodore (Ret’d) Philip Nash, Former Deputy Director Combined Joint Operations from the Sea COE, Royal Navy

1500 - Chairman’s closing remarks Vice Admiral (Ret’d) Jeffrey Trussler, Former Deputy Chief of the Naval Operations for Information Warfare, US Navy

1505 - CLOSE OF CONFERENCE

Page 17 of 17

Official Invitation to the Combined Naval Event 2026 .docx (97).pdf

Navy Leaders Ltd Greenwood House 91-99 New London Rd Chelmsford CM2 OPP United Kingdom +44 (0)1245 407 922 www.navyleaders.com 10th March 2026

OFFICIAL INVITATION TO THE COMBINED NAVAL EVENT (19th – 21st MAY 2026)

Dear Major General Vahur Karus

We are honoured to invite you and a delegation from the Estonian Joint Headquarters to participate in the Combined Naval Event (CNE), which takes place between 19th and 21st May 2026 at the Farnborough International Exhibition & Conference Centre in the UK.

CNE is the largest annual dedicated naval conference in Europe and is officially supported by the Royal Navy, the UK Department for Business & Trade, the UK Ministry of Defence and NATO. The event attracts over 2,500 attendees from more than 80 countries, and hosts 230 exhibiting companies from naval industry, and is a superb opportunity to develop and enhance your network of naval, defence industrial, and academic experts.

Since last year’s event, the world has grown more chaotic and less stable. Conflict endures across Europe, and technological advances continue to reshape how we think about warfare. Autonomous systems, strategic unpredictability, threats to global trade, and the rise of “sub threshold” aggression against our critical underwater infrastructure are now daily aspects of our volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous world; there is, therefore, much to discuss. As such, a recrafted CNE conference programme runs alongside the exhibition, and offers compelling strategic insights into these issues via a curated agenda that brings together government ministers, senior officers from Armed Forces around the world, industry leaders, defence technology practitioners, and experts in maritime warfare to collaborate and address shared challenges. We would be honoured if you would consider supporting the event by joining us, or sending a delegation of personnel representing Estonia. We would be delighted to welcome any personnel you decide to delegate at Europe’s largest annual naval event. We understand the demands on your schedule and the difficulty of predicting your commitments, but we hope you will join us. Should you have any questions or require further information, please contact our colleague, [email protected] . Thank you in advance for your consideration of this invitation. We hope to see you in May.

Yours sincerely,

Vice Admiral Jeffrey Trussler USN (Retired) Rear Admiral James Parkin CBE (Retired)

Chairs of Combined Naval Event 2026

Supported by

20260310_Avalik_KV_3.5-1_26_167_CNE Poster -QR Code.pdf

EXHIBITORS AND SPONSORS INCLUDE:

EUROPE’S LARGEST ANNUAL NAVAL EVENT 19TH - 21ST MAY 2026 | FARNBOROUGH, UK

and many more...

FEATURED SPEAKERS

KEY TOPICSEVENT STATS

EXHIBITION HALL 150+ EXHIBITORS FEATURING:

Shipyards, prime contractors & defence OEMs Small & medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) Shipbuilding & maritime engineering Combat systems, C6ISR, digital transformation & sensors Autonomous systems, robotics & emerging technologies Cyber, software, simulation & support services

NAVYLEADERS.COM/CNE

2,200+

85+

220+

140+

INTERNATIONAL ATTENDEES

NATIONS REPRESENTED

EXHIBITORS

EXPERT SPEAKERS

Over three days, attend presentations covering: Surface Warfare and Future Systems Shipbuilding and Autonomous Systems Digital, Targeting and Innovation Submarine Technology and Special Operations Autonomous Systems and Undersea Warfare Subsea and Seabed Warfare

General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff,

Royal Navy

Vice Admiral Markku Hassinen, Chief of the Border Guard,

Finnish Border Guard

Admiral Sir Keith Blount KCB OBE, Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe,

NATO

Rear Admiral Özgür Ekren, Commander and CTF Black Sea,

Turkish Naval Forces

Vice Admiral Paul Beattie CBE, Second Sea Lord,

Royal Navy

Vice Admiral Curt Renshaw, Commander U.S. Navy 5th Fleet,

US Navy

Commodore Michael Turner, Director General Maritime Integrated

Capabilities, Royal Australian Navy

Rear Admiral Paul Flos, Program Director International Maritime

Materiel Cooperation, Netherlands Ministry of Defence

Commodore Kyrre Haugen, Fleet Commander,

Royal Norwegian Navy

Commander SG Kai Nickelsdorf, Commander 1st Submarine Squadron,

German Navy

REGISTER HERE

20260310_Avalik_KV_3.5-1_26_167_CNE2026 Agenda.pdf