calendar
Events
Trade shows, symposia, industry days, competitions and exercises where military autonomy is the point, not a side track. Soonest first, with the submission and exhibitor deadlines that matter before the doors open.
Conference
Off-the-record sessions with defense leaders on scaling uncrewed systems, autonomy, acquisition reform and the industrial base. Runs alongside the AUVSI Fall Assembly and the Drone and AAM Policy Symposium.
AUVSI ·
Washington, DC
Symposium
Symposium, demo day and expo at the home of Army special operations, and a direct route to SOF users of small autonomous systems.
Global SOF Foundation ·
Fort Bragg, NC
Conference
Dedicated U.S. counter-UAS conference where Department of War and DHS buyers discuss detection, defeat and base defense requirements.
SAE Media Group ·
Washington, DC
Conference
Agenda-setting forum where the Secretary of War, service chiefs, Congress and primes frame autonomy and drone priorities for the coming budget year.
Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute ·
Simi Valley, CA
In-person attendance is by invitation; virtual registration is open.
Symposium
Primary venue for surface-fleet leadership on uncrewed surface vessels, DRPM-UxS and the hybrid fleet.
Surface Navy Association ·
Arlington, VA
· dates per secondary listing, confirm with organizer
Conference
Homeland-security counter-UAS requirements that increasingly overlap with Department of War base defense and autonomy policy.
SAE Media Group ·
Arlington, VA
· dates per secondary listing, confirm with organizer
Symposium
AFSOC's industry symposium, where special air warfare autonomy, launched effects and counter-UAS requirements get aired.
Global SOF Foundation ·
Fort Walton Beach, FL
Conference
Government-heavy speaker roster on uncrewed systems across all services, held in Huntsville three weeks ahead of AUSA Global Force.
Defense Strategies Institute ·
Huntsville, AL
Symposium
Air Force and Space Force senior leaders set collaborative combat aircraft, autonomy and counter-drone priorities here each spring.
Air & Space Forces Association ·
Aurora, CO
Trade show
The Army materiel and acquisition community's main spring show. Launched effects, the drone marketplace and Transformation in Contact dominate.
Association of the U.S. Army ·
Huntsville, AL
Registration opens December 2026.
Trade show
Largest maritime expo in the U.S., where Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard uncrewed maritime and aerial programs are briefed.
Navy League of the United States ·
National Harbor, MD
Conference
Allied-military robotics and autonomy conference regularly attended by U.S. Army and Marine Corps program offices.
SAE Media Group ·
London, UK
· dates per secondary listing, confirm with organizer
Trade show
The Marine Corps' primary industry expo, with Force Design, organic precision fires and small-UAS requirements front and center.
Marine Military Expos ·
Washington, DC
Attendee registration opens in January.
Conference
Core technical venue for sensors, perception and autonomy processing papers, with a dedicated autonomous systems track.
SPIE ·
Orlando, FL
· dates per secondary listing, confirm with organizer
Call for papers is open, including a dedicated Autonomous Systems conference; check SPIE for the abstract deadline.
Trade show
USSOCOM's flagship industry event. 2027 adds The Outpost, a new all-domain autonomous systems zone for live demonstrations.
Global SOF Foundation and USSOCOM ·
Tampa, FL
Non-partner exhibit intake form due Nov. 29; Accelerator Alley small-business applications due Nov. 24; early-bird registration through April 14.
Trade show
Largest U.S. uncrewed systems show, with a dedicated defense programming track. Education starts May 17, exhibits May 18.
AUVSI ·
Miami Beach, FL
Exhibit space booking is open.
Trade show
Biggest commercial drone show in the Americas and increasingly a venue for dual-use airframe, autonomy-stack and NDAA-compliant component suppliers.
Diversified Communications ·
Las Vegas, NV
· dates per secondary listing, confirm with organizer
Conference
Fall counterpart to the Warfare Symposium. Collaborative combat aircraft increments, autonomy and counter-UAS announcements usually land here.
Air & Space Forces Association ·
National Harbor, MD
Trade show
Largest land-power expo in North America. Army drone, launched-effects and Autonomous Warfare Command news breaks here.
Association of the U.S. Army ·
Washington, DC
· dates per secondary listing, confirm with organizer
Know an event that belongs here? Reply to any Tuesday issue with the dates, organizer and official link. We list events, not vendor webinars.
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