Defence Estates & Infrastructure

Defence Estates & Infrastructure 2026 brings together senior leaders from the UK defence community and its infrastructure supply chain. Attendees include representatives from the MoD, Defence Infrastructure Organisation, British Army, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force, Defence Nuclear Organisation and leading industry partners responsible for delivering major defence estate and infrastructure programmes.

The attendee snapshot represents a selection of organisations confirmed to attend. Download your copy now.

From supporting the RAF's Tornado GR4 fleet as an airframe technician to leading nuclear infrastructure delivery for the Defence Infrastructure Organisation, Dan Ross has spent his career at the sharp end of operational infrastructure. Ahead of the Defence Estates and Infrastructure Conference, he discusses the realities of delivering major defence programmes in live operational environments, why resilience now goes far beyond bricks and mortar, and how closer collaboration between defence and industry will be critical as infrastructure demands continue to grow across the UK.

Defence capability is often measured in terms of platforms, personnel, and technology, but behind every operational force lies the infrastructure that enables it to function. From hardened command centres and resilient energy networks to accommodation, utilities, and digital systems, defence estates are increasingly being recognised as a frontline capability in their own right. For Dr. Matias Warsta, preparedness is not something that can be improvised once a crisis begins. It must be designed, built, tested, and sustained long before it is ever needed. In this interview, the CEO of Defence Properties Finland discusses why resilience now sits at the heart of defence infrastructure planning, how Finland's total defence model shapes its approach to estate management, and why collaboration between government, industry, and allied nations will be essential to strengthening military readiness in the years ahead.

The future of the Royal Navy is being shaped today through long-term planning, strategic investment, and forward-thinking infrastructure development. In this exclusive interview, James Heaton-Smith, Programme Director of CLYDE 2070, provides a unique perspective on the decades-long transformation underway at Naval Base Clyde.

Speaking from His Majesty’s Naval Base Portsmouth, Heaton-Smith outlines how the Defence Infrastructure Organisation is setting the foundation for the future. He discusses how CLYDE 2070 is not only reimagining the naval base itself, but also ensuring it is equipped to support the Royal Navy’s evolving operational needs, technological advancements, and the wider defence strategy.

This conversation highlights the scale of investment, the importance of resilience and adaptability, and the long-term vision driving one of the most significant infrastructure programmes within UK Defence. Watch the full interview to hear directly from a programme leader at the heart of this transformation, and understand how today’s decisions are preparing the Royal Navy for tomorrow’s challenges.

The Defence Estates & Infrastructure 2025 conference took place in London from the 30th September to the 1st October, uniting experts and decision-makers from across the global defence community. Officially supported by the UK Ministry of Defence, the event convened key figures including Heads of Infrastructure, Programme Directors, Defence Estate Commanders, and senior representatives from NATO, the Royal Navy, the Royal Air Force, and allied defence ministries.

This year’s theme, “Optimising the Defence Estate of the Future,” explored how defence organisations can modernise their infrastructure to remain sustainable, resilient, and operationally effective. Over two intensive days, delegates engaged in high-level discussions designed to address the critical question: how can defence organisations deliver sustainable, affordable, and resilient estates that underpin both operational readiness and personnel wellbeing?

The event hosted 185 attendees from 18 nations, featuring 28 expert speakers across keynote addresses, panel sessions, and networking forums. With contributions from the UK Ministry of Defence, the Royal Navy, NATO, and allied partners including Denmark, Norway, Canada, Poland, and Latvia, the conference offered attendees a crucial platform for strategic insight and knowledge exchange across the global defence infrastructure community. This Post Show Report summarises the key themes, discussions, and insights shared across both days of the conference.

Ahead of Defence Estates & Infrastructure 2026, defence journalist and author Tim Ripley examines how military estates are adapting to new security threats, sustainability demands and the changing needs of modern armed forces.

Forward Operating Bases are essential to providing support at the tactical and strategic levels of operation. However, as with many aspects of force deployment, FOBs must adapt to the new realities of increasingly volatile near-peer threats and the need for readiness. This calls us to rethink base deployment and operations. This article by defence journalist and author Tim Ripley explores the differences in the operating environment and the steps that must be taken to ensure FOBs remain relevant on the battlefield.

As with many other Forces, the NATO alliance is rationalising how it provides infrastructure and facilities to the troops. This rationalisation results from several political, geopolitical, climatical, and cultural changes pushing for the revision of the future vision of Defence Estates and Infrastructure. To speak on this from a NATO perspective, we have Sébastien Seguin, Chief of Division, Infrastructure, Facilities and Support Services of the NSPA, who informs us of NATO’s goals and programmes and potential trends and futures.

To meet today’s national security challenges, Defence Estates must provide sustainable and affordable buildings and accommodations to support national defence needs while satisfying personnel's needs. While not mutually exclusive, the challenge is brought to bear when considering limited financial resources and efficiency goals. Defence Estates and Infrastructure brings together experts worldwide into one place to discuss these challenges and opportunities. Our chairman, Air Commodore James Savage, former Head of Accommodation in the Defence Infrastructure Organisation, will lead the discussion. In this interview, the Air Commodore will share his views on the state and future of DE&I.