NextGen Flight: UAV & Drone Summit ANZ brings together government, defence, emergency services, and industry leaders shaping the future of UAV innovation across Australia and New Zealand. From AI and swarm technology to evolving regulations and counter-drone measures, the summit tackles the opportunities and challenges transforming UAV operations across every sector.

Join ANZ’s leading UAV stakeholders for a one-day program of strategy, collaboration, and live demonstrations — aligning policy, capability, and innovation for the decade ahead.

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The NextGen Flight: UAV & Drone Summit ANZ will bring together government agencies, defence leaders, emergency services, regulators, and industry innovators to explore the future of uncrewed aviation across Australia and New Zealand. As UAV technology rapidly advances, its impact on national security, emergency response, infrastructure, and industry is becoming transformative.

Across ANZ, drones are reshaping how organisations operate — from defence and border surveillance to agriculture, logistics, and utilities. With new opportunities emerging from AI, autonomy, and swarm technologies, and increasing focus on sovereign capability and regulation, collaboration between government and industry has never been more critical.

The 2026 Summit will serve as the premier meeting point for UAV and drone leaders, providing a platform to address key challenges such as airspace integration, counter-UAV systems, data governance, safety regulation, and public trust. Attendees will gain insight into the technologies and policies driving the next decade of UAV innovation and capability.

The event will be held on May 26, 2026, Canberra, Australia. Download the sponsorship guide to see why you should be part of this landmark event.

As uncrewed aviation rapidly reshapes industries across Australia and New Zealand, UAVs are becoming mission-critical assets for emergency response, defence, infrastructure, logistics, and national security. Advances in autonomy, AI-enabled navigation, swarm technologies, and beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations are accelerating adoption — while regulatory reform and sovereign capability priorities are redefining the future of flight.

The NextGen Flight: UAV & Drone Summit ANZ 2026 brings together senior leaders from government, defence, emergency services, aviation, and industry to tackle the most urgent challenges and opportunities facing the UAV ecosystem — from airspace integration and counter-drone threats to workforce readiness, safety, and public trust.

Hear exclusive insights from:

• Paul Daly, Superintendent, Police Air Wing, Western Australia Police Force
• Lt. Col. Charles Phillips, Deputy Director UAS Directorate of Aviation Operations, Department of Defence
• Paul Hibberd, National Manager, Emerging Technologies and Regulatory Change, Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA)
• Daniel Austin, Deputy Commissioner, NSW State Emergency Service (SES)
• Brett Hagan, Chief Superintendent Manager Operational Field Support, NSW Rural Fire Service
• Damien Boyer, Head of Uncrewed Aviation, Surf Life Saving Queensland

Join us for strategic briefings, operational case studies, and future-focused panels exploring how UAV innovation is transforming emergency response, national security, and commercial operations — and shaping the next decade of aviation. Explore the full agenda now.

Australia’s uncrewed aerial systems sector is entering a new phase of growth, driven by defence modernisation, sovereign capability priorities, and expanding commercial adoption. As drones and autonomous air systems become increasingly critical across defence, emergency response, infrastructure, and industry, understanding the trajectory of this rapidly evolving market is essential.

This report provides a detailed analysis of Australia’s UAV and UCAV market from 2026–2031, exploring key investments, emerging technologies, regulatory developments, and the programmes shaping the country’s next generation of uncrewed capability.

Download the Report Today!