DSEI UK launches new themes with head of armed forces

DSEI UK and the Chief of the Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal (ACM) Sir Richard Knighton, have launched the themes for the 2027 edition of the event, focused on ‘Delivering the Integrated Force’.

Speaking about the event, ACM Knighton said it helps bring together industry, science and technology, and the warfighter, helping to ensure the UK is “faster and better than our adversaries”.

What are the themes?

Four subthemes underpin ‘Delivering the Integrated Force’ and will guide discussions across the event.

These are:

• Innovation and emerging technologies
• Supply chain and industrial capacity
• Deepening global defence collaboration and partnerships
• Digital transformation, AI and cyber

These themes were set in collaboration with the UK Ministry of Defence and National Armaments Director (NAD) Group, which are responsible for defence procurement.

The head of the NAD Group, Rupert Pearce, said the event provides the “perfect time for the different stakeholders to come together” to determine how to accelerate delivery, adding “we have until the end of 2030, at best, to deter and be ready to fight.”

What is DSEI UK?

Held between 7-10 September next year at the ExCeL London, the event will bring together 65,000 visitors and up to 1,700 companies which showcase developed and in-service capability to the global defence market.

DSEI also holds editions in Germany and Japan. DSEI Germany takes place on 9–12 March 2027 in Hannover, Germany, and DSEI Japan on 28–30 April 2027 in Chiba, Japan.