Agenda

The Navy is pushing to meet its goal of more than 350 manned ships and nearly 200 large unmanned vessels in the next 30 years. This session will examine the challenges of meeting that goal, and the future of the U.S. shipbuilding industry.

The Air Force has encountered some significant obstacles over the years as it’s developed fighter jets, tankers, and more. But new efforts like the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program are changing the way the department approaches acquisition. This session will offer a look at how the Air Force is overcoming previous obstacles, and a peek into what lies ahead.

The war in Ukraine has underscored the need for drones in modern conflict, but also shown how quickly the technology must adapt to stay ahead of the adversary. This session will focus on the state of drone acquisition.

The Department of Defense (DoD) faces rising threats in the electromagnetic spectrum, from disrupting adversary communications to securing its networks against advanced cyber attacks. As electronic warfare (EW) becomes essential for battlefield dominance, the DoD is accelerating the integration of electronic and cyber operations across all branches. Defense One will discuss the current state of EW with DoD leaders, highlighting recent advancements and their impact on future joint operations. This conversation will cover the DoD's evolving acquisition strategies for rapid deployment of next-gen EW capabilities and the importance of industry collaboration and public-private partnerships in maintaining the U.S. military’s technological edge.

As the military embarks on critical modernization efforts, a streamlined and agile acquisition process is essential. This discussion will offer insights into how the DOD is tackling the challenges of acquiring cutting-edge software while navigating the complexities of procurement.

The right software can dictate a battle’s outcome. How is the DOD overcoming its cumbersome acquisition process to develop and buy the best and most current software solutions?