• Overview of key programmes

• Current challenges

• Pathway for the future

Major General Alex Turner *subject to final confirmation

Director Army Futures
British Army

See Bio

• Strategic overview of ambitions for collaborative UxS

• Test and evaluation for emerging technologies in real military environments

• Integrating autonomous systems into operational doctrine

Captain Artur Varanda

Project Officer, Robotics and Autonomous Systems, CEMTEx
Portuguese Army

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• Overview of current programmes

• Capability gaps

• Pathway for the future

Lieutenant Colonel Robbie Hicks

SO1 Robotic and Autonomous Systems
British Army

See Bio

• Research and development collaboration with academia

• Recent developments from our ongoing academic autonomy competition held in Alabama

• Developments necessary to counter capability gaps in UAS

Ross Mckenzie

UAS Portfolio Lead, Joint Capability Group, Defence Investment
NATO HQ

See Bio

• Insights into the Land Robotics and Autonomous Systems Ecosystem of Digital Twin Development and

Experimentation (Land RAS EDT)

• Developing architectures needed for uncrewed and crewed multi domain systems to work together

• Increasing trust in uncrewed platforms

Luke Gallantree

Senior Principal Systems Engineer
The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory

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• Responses and actions following the UK’s SDR, emphasis on UAS development

• Investment strategies, aligning with the geopolitical threat context

• Current challenges and capability gaps

Colonel Simon Pope

Commander, UAS Group
UK MoD

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This panel will explore the rapidly advancing field of Uncrewed Ground Vehicles and their growing role in modern

defence operations. As militaries seek greater operational flexibility, survivability, and efficiency, UGVs are becoming

essential tools for logistics, reconnaissance, force protection, and combat support.

Discussion Points

• What are the most significant recent breakthroughs in UGV development, particularly in AI-enabled navigation,

sensor integration, and autonomous mission execution?

• How is industry supporting interoperability between UGVs and other systems, both crewed and uncrewed, and

ensuring seamless integration into existing defence architectures?

• What technical and operational challenges remain in scaling UGVs for complex multi-domain missions, and how

are these being overcome through innovation, testing, and user feedback?

• How are defence companies and technology providers working with military end-users to accelerate trials, refine

concepts of operation, and ensure mission-ready capabilities?

• How is innovation in commercial robotics and AI influencing the design, performance, and adaptability of next-gen UGVs

• Deploying tiered counter-UAS architectures to neutralise threats from micro-drones to larger UAVs

• AI-Driven detection and response

• Coalition and commercial collaboration

Sean Bittick

C-UAS and Capability Development Officer
NATO

See Bio

• Coordinating the UK’s efforts to detect, track, identify, and neutralise threats posed by uncrewed aerial systems

• Integrating C-UAS capabilities across domains

• Current challenges and ambitions for the future

Lieutenant Colonel Jon Hipkins

SO1 Operations, Joint Counter-Uncrewed Aerial Systems Office (JCO).
UK Ministry of Defence

See Bio

• Ambitions to maintain technological superiority

• Technology for ISR

• Current challenges and proposed solutions

Dwayne Hynes *subject to final confirmation

Chief, Foreign Intelligence Technology
U.S. Army – HQDA

See Bio