UK National Defence Procurement & Supply Chain Summit 2026

Defence Summit 2026 (DPRTE) 

The Defence Summit 2026 is a UK defence sector event focused on helping suppliers understand and access opportunities arising from significant UK defence investment and procurement reforms. The event aims to connect government, industry leaders, prime contractors, mid-tier organisations, SMEs, and new market entrants to discuss how policy changes and investment plans can translate into contract opportunities.

Key Focus Areas
The summit highlights several major developments in the UK defence sector:

• Historic Investment: The UK government has announced a confirmed £15 billion funding increase as part of a broader defence investment programme worth nearly £300 billion over four years. 
• Procurement Reform: Changes to defence procurement processes are creating both opportunities and challenges for suppliers seeking to enter or expand within the defence supply chain. 
• SME and New Entrant Opportunities: Increased demand for innovative suppliers, particularly in areas such as AI, cyber security, advanced manufacturing, and energy. 
• Supply Chain Growth: A significant opportunity for organisations to establish competitive advantage as new defence programmes and supply chains are developed. 

What Attendees Will Learn
Participants will gain insight into:

• Defence spending pipelines and future contract opportunities.
• Routes for SMEs to access and win work within defence supply chains.
• The impact of procurement reform on supplier engagement.
• The growing role of mid-tier organisations as market-entry routes.
• Opportunities arising from defence clusters and export markets.

Why Attend?
The event offers attendees the opportunity to:

• Identify where defence funding is being deployed.
• Understand how supply chains are being structured.
• Learn how government policy is creating opportunities for SMEs.
• Gain clarity on procurement changes and commercial implications.
• Network with buyers, partners, policymakers, and industry leaders.

Confirmed Speakers
Notable speakers currently include:

• Luke Pollard MP – Minister of State for Defence Readiness & Industry, Ministry of Defence.
• Admiral Sir Tony Radakin – Former Chief of the Defence Staff.
• Victoria Cope – Commercial Director, Defence Digital.
• Prof. Andrew Schofield – Chair, North West Regional Defence and Security Cluster (NWRDSC).
• Prof. Annette Weekes MBE – CEO, Zenix Aerospace.
• Tim Ketton-Locke – Director, Defence Office for Small Business Growth, MOD.