With just less than 50 days to go until the AAD 2026 Conference opens at Air Force Base Waterkloof, an extensive three-day programme is set to bring together military leaders, defence industry executives, technology specialists, policymakers and aviation experts to examine some of the most pressing issues shaping Africa’s defence and security future.
Taking place from 16–18 September alongside Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) 2026, the conference will deliver three days of strategic content across keynote addresses, expert presentations, panel discussions and parallel conference tracks.
From artificial intelligence, drones and electronic warfare to defence industrialisation, sovereign capability, space, aviation and unmanned systems, the programme has been designed around one central question: how should Africa prepare for the rapidly changing defence, security and aerospace environment?
Organised by DefenceWeb, the AAD 2026 Conference brings these conversations into the heart of one of Africa’s largest defence and aerospace gatherings, giving delegates the opportunity to combine high-level conference participation with access to the wider AAD exhibition.
Day One: How is warfare changing – and is Africa ready?
The opening day, The Future of Warfare, tackles the technologies and strategic shifts already transforming modern conflict.
The programme will examine the changing nature of warfare and what it means for African defence forces, including the responsible military use of artificial intelligence, drones and autonomous systems, cyber warfare and hacktivism, electronic warfare, multi-domain operations and innovations in weaponry and materials.
Delegates will also hear debate around the lessons emerging from current conflicts around the world – and, importantly, which of those lessons can realistically be applied within an African context.
Among the questions being addressed are how African militaries can modernise while working within fiscal constraints; how legacy capabilities can be balanced with rapidly emerging technologies; and whether doctrine, procurement and defence policy are keeping pace with the speed at which warfare is changing.
Day Two: Building Africa’s defence industrial capability
Day Two turns the focus to the African Defence Industry Showcase, examining what is required to build stronger, more sustainable and increasingly sovereign defence capabilities across the continent.
Sessions will explore the current state of Africa’s defence industry, industrial capacity, defence funding models, public-private partnerships, research and development, supply chain resilience and the journey from prototype to operational deployment.
The programme will also tackle practical industry challenges – from ammunition stockpiles and production capacity to localisation, regional cooperation and the role of African suppliers in building more resilient defence ecosystems.
The future of major strategic defence assets, opportunities for collaboration between governments and private industry, and the role of women and female-owned companies in Africa’s defence sector will also form part of the day’s discussions.
Space also takes a prominent place on the agenda, with discussion around its growing importance as a strategic and military domain and how Africa can secure, commercialise and compete in the emerging space economy.
For defence companies, policymakers and procurement stakeholders, the focus is not simply on identifying the challenges facing the sector, but on exploring where the opportunities lie – for investment, partnerships, technology development, localisation and growth.
Day Three: The future of African aviation
The final day broadens the conversation to Commercial & Military Aviation, examining aviation as both a strategic capability and an economic driver for the continent.
Discussions will explore aviation’s role in African economic growth and connectivity, the expanding use of unmanned aerial systems across commercial, humanitarian and military operations, the future of air combat capability, airport infrastructure and airspace management, and the technologies likely to reshape aviation in the decades ahead.
The programme reflects the increasingly interconnected nature of civil and military aviation and the opportunities created by dual-use technologies, infrastructure, skills and capabilities.
More than a seat in a conference room
The value of attending the AAD 2026 Conference extends beyond the individual sessions.
The conference takes place within the wider AAD 2026 environment at Air Force Base Waterkloof, placing delegates at the intersection of strategic discussion, defence and aerospace innovation, industry engagement and high-level networking.
A Full Conference Pass provides access to all three days of conference sessions as well as the official AAD 2026 Opening Ceremony and three-day access to the AAD exhibition.
Delegates will have opportunities to engage with senior military representatives, government officials, defence and aerospace industry leaders, technology specialists and subject-matter experts, while dedicated networking and exhibition periods have been built into each conference day.
“This conference is about bringing the conversations that matter into the same room as the people who can influence what happens next,” said Guy Martin, Editor of DefenceWeb.
“The agenda deliberately moves across technology, military capability, industry and aviation because these issues cannot be viewed in isolation. Whether we are talking about AI, drones, electronic warfare, defence manufacturing, space or the future of aviation, the decisions being made today will shape Africa’s defence and security environment for years to come.”
With less than 50 days remaining until AAD 2026, organisations and individuals planning to attend are encouraged to secure their conference places.
The AAD 2026 Conference takes place from 16–18 September 2026 at Air Force Base Waterkloof, Pretoria.
