Delivering effective and affordable through life solutions to the front line

In an era of asymmetric conflicts and an age of uncertainty, how do we tilt the playing field in our favour and maintain the ability to fight other wars?
DOWNLOAD a PDF of the official Conference Brochure

UPDATE 25/09/08: New speaker joins the debate:
James Engle, Director, Armament and Communications-Electronics Division, US Mission to NATO

This year's high-level authoritative conference will examine the most critical challenges and opportunities facing the defence industry in the United Kingdom, Continental Europe, North America and elsewhere.
It will seek to answer three critical questions: What are the new technology requirements in an era of uncertainty and asymmetry? Given the inexorable acceleration of change, how will defence procurement become agile and innovative, and still be affordable? Against this background, how will governments maintain the capability to deliver programmes.

Key themes

Future conflicts and their technology requirements

What will be the nature and characteristics of the conflicts in which we are likely to find ourselves engaged between now and 2030? How can technology help to deliver better effects? Concept experts, senior generals, procurement officials and industry executives will look at what may be expected and how we can deliver the best effects. Budgets are exceptionally tight and will remain so. The threat picture is unclear, but the prospects for stability are not good. This session will explain what industry can do to meet the acquisition challenges governments will have to face. Innovative thinking by corporates can provide governments with assistance as they prepare to equip their forces for future decades of uncertainty and of considerable risk.

Securing innovation and agility - how do we refresh miltary capability through life and make agility affordable?

Key questions to be addressed in this session centre on innovation, flexibility and agility in the development of R&T and the insertion of products into military capability. The roles of traditional and non-traditional defence suppliers will be examined in the context of new ideas and more sharply focused and economical acquisition.

The management of military programmes and developing Through Life Capability Management in the long term

The United States, the United Kingdom and other countries have seen a downsizing of their ‘in house’ engineering skills with reductions in core acquisition staff. This has led to less than adequate initial specifications, and thereafter to delays and cost escalation. This final session looks at a number of the most vital engineering and capability management challenges affecting defence ministries and the business opportunities these offer to industry in circumstances where technology skills in the military and among officials have often been in decline, with resultant problems over budgets, acquisition times, and achieving maximum value added.

Conference audience

Now in its 5th year, this essential, high-level strategic conference will bring together international government and military officials and senior level defence industry executives. Building on the success of last year's sell-out conference this year's event will focus on the most important challenges facing the industry today. The conference audience will comprise of:

International government and ministry officials responsible for policy, requirements and procurement
Senior industry executives responsible for, and who influence, strategy within defence companies - including CEOs, VPs, Directors
International delegates who are interested in serious analysis of how governments and industry should proceed in the light of emerging challenges
Senior executives from research and development organisations
Business development execs, purchasing personnel and defence consultants
Top directors and advisors with responsibility for government relations

Why attend?

The conference will provide you with insight and analysis of the current challenges facing the defence industry and through informed debate develop an understanding of the methodologies of overcoming them:

Hear where leading global executives and government officials expect industry and policy to develop
Gain unparalleled insight into latest defence strategy and the future direction of global defence
Identify business opportunities
Determine where doctrine and strategy will need to be changed and relate these changes to the future of the defence industry in the UK, US, Continental Europe and elsewhere
Develop a clear understanding of the future direction of UK, European and transatlantic defence marketss
Question those responsible for shaping the defence strategy of tomorrow and, in particular, those responsible for R&T, capability development and capability management
Network with a senior international group of key policy and strategy makers
Learn how corporates can best assist governments in achieving effective transformation
Understand the immediate challenges for governments, the military and industry and how to overcome them
Examine current and future threats and investigate best business opportunities for the defence industry in today’s uncertain climate and the equally complex world of tomorrow
Direct your questions to those responsible for shaping the defence policies of tomorrow

For more information or to receive a copy of the conference brochure when it becomes available, please email: raf.kotowicz@janes.com

Programme developed in association with		Supporting Sponsor