Defence Space Conference 2020

THE VIRTUAL CONFERENCE FOR SPACE PROFESSIONALS

We are delighted to announce the partnership of the Defence Space Conference and the International Space Pitch Day

FREE ACCESS TO CONFERENCE RECORDINGS NOW AVAILABLE

Welcome to Defence Space 2020. We are delighted to be able to offer you the opportunity to view all of the sessions via our

on-demand service which will be available until 17/02/2021.  Please click on the APPLY NOW button to register.

MILITARY SPACE: MOBILISE, MODERNISE, TRANSFORM

Defence Space is the leading platform for all those who seek to influence emerging thinking on the UK’s military space capability and plans. Bringing together senior UK Government officials, military commanders, industry, academics, and leaders in disruptive technologies from the UK and overseas, Defence Space is aimed at exploring the UK MoD’s ambitions in space, looking at the latest innovation, thought leadership and disruptive technologies in this vital domain.

Defence Space 2020 explores the opportunities and disruptive possibilities for the future of military space. Engaging with speakers from across the military, Government, industry, and academia, it considers how Defence mobilises, modernises, and transforms its approach to the Space domain now and into the future. The conference also puts in conversation Defence’s projections for the future of its current capabilities with the emerging technologies which look set to disrupt national and international plans in Space. This year, Defence Space hosted the inaugural International Space Pitch Day, a UK-US initiative to find, fund and fast-track innovation and technology that gives advantage to military personnel and operations in the space domain. This combined event demonstrates how the MOD is keeping up with the rapid pace of change in the military application of Space. It also provides a forum for engaging stakeholders across the space community in the ongoing dialogue about the modernisation of Defence.

Click here for news on International Space Pitch Day finalists.

Click here for news of the winners

For further details about International Space Pitch Day please click here

SPEAKERS AT DEFENCE SPACE 2020

Secretary of State for Defence, Rt Hon Ben Wallace MP

Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston

Commander UK Strategic Command, General Sir Patrick Sanders

General John W ‘Jay’ Raymond, Chief of Space Operations, United States Space Force

General Michel Friedling, Space Commander, French Air & Space Force

Mircea Geoana, Deputy Secretary General, NATO

Brigadier General Giuseppe Sgamba, Assistant Director, NATO Joint Air Power Competence Centre

Angus Lapsley Director General, Strategy & International, Ministry of Defence

Air Marshal Rich Knighton Deputy Chief of Defence Staff (Military Capability)

UK MOD Director Space, Air Vice Marshal Harv Smyth.

Claire Barcham, Strategy Director, UK Space Agency

Samantha Job, Director for Defence and International Security, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.

Dr Will Roper, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, USAF

Air Marshal Ed Stringer, Director General, Joint Force Development, Ministry of Defence

Dr Gemma Bagheri, Principal Space Scientist and Programme Technical Lead, UK Ministry of Defence

Gary Aitkenhead, Chief Executive, Dstl

Sir Martin Sweeting, Executive Chairman and Founder,Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd

Professor Anu Ojha, Director, UK National Space Academy

Senior leaders from CGI, Viasat UK, Team Athena, Reaction Engines, Airbus, Northrop Grumman, ICEYE, Starburst, Policy Exchange, The Aerospace Corp. KISPE Space, In-Space Missions Ltd, D-Orbit UK

A VIEW FROM THE TOP

‘Thank  you to all those who attended and participated in Defence Space.  In spite of the challenges that have besieged us all this year, we were able to reschedule and deliver a world-class virtual event.

Thanks to the contributions by the world’s leading space professionals, including out closest space partners and allies, colleagues across Government, industry and space innovators and the academic and scientific community, we were able to explore in depth how Defence mobilises, modernises and transforms its approach in the Space domain now and into the future.

As the UK takes its next steps towards being a world-class space power and key player in the future security of the Space domain, I look forward to continuing this conversation which this unique forum provides and commend this two-day event to all those with an interest in the UK’s future in space. Enjoy Defence Space 2020.’

Air Vice-Marshal Harv Smyth,  Director Space, Ministry of Defence

‘The second UK Defence Space Conference will be a timely demonstration of the UK’s ambition in the Space Domain: our future programmes; the opportunities as well as the challenges to our national interests in space; and a showcase for our world-class space industrial sector.  Our inaugural Conference in 2018 was a huge success; the 2020 Conference will be even better’.

Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal  Sir Mike Wigston CBE ADC 

‘Faced with the evolving threats posed by grey-zone warfare, Strategic Command is tasked with providing the integration and coordination our Armed Forces need across all five domains to maintain national security; the hotly contested and congested Space Domain provides Defence with some unique challenges, but there are also significant opportunities that the UK’s space sector has to offer Defence, not only in countering the threat but also in redefining sub-threshold warfare. This conference provides a unique opportunity to discuss these issues in depth with global partners and allies.’

General Sir Patrick Sanders KCB CBE DSO ADC Gen, Commander Strategic Command (UKStratCom) 

‘As the Space Domain takes on even greater significance for defence and evolves at such a pace, it is vital that we continue to debate the critical issues in the most open and diverse forum possible. Much has happened since our highly successful inaugural conference in 2018, so we have much to discuss at Defence Space Conference 2020. The Air and Space Power Association is proud to host this conference and welcomes all of you to help shape and inform the next steps.’

Air Marshal (Ret’d) Greg Bagwell CB CBE, President, The Air & Space Power Association

‘Defence Space 2020 promises again to provide a springboard for the next phase of conceptual thinking, discussion and development of the UK’s approach to Space Power.  Of particular importance as we move forward with Space is how emergent and disruptive technologies may play a part in the use of Space in the defence and security contexts, and the conference gives a strong emphasis to this debate.  Future rapid deployment of Space capabilities, sustainable space, on-orbit manufacturing and servicing, pseudo space capabilities and Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning all feature in the packed programme.  Additionally, we will have excellent input from international friends and allies, to complement the strategic and operational views from the MOD and Front Line Commands.  The Conference promises to be a stimulating and informative exposé of MOD’s Space Power direction of travel and I am delighted that the Air and Space Power Association is again delivering the event.’

Air Commodore (Ret’d) Mark Roberts CBE, Chairman, The Air and Space Power Association