In an era marked by geopolitical uncertainty, rapid technological evolution, and constrained defence budgets, gaining and sustaining advantage are no longer optional they are essential. UDT 2026’s theme “Advantage through Undersea Technology” captures the urgent need to accelerate and manage innovation, seamlessly integrating emerging technologies into effective operational capabilities, and prioritise investment through three key areas:
"Autonomy" emphasises the critical role of autonomous and unmanned systems in expanding operational reach and enhanced decision-making.
"Application" addresses the defence sector’s need to rapidly adapt to changing threat environments, especially with the emergence of novel technologies and near-peer adversaries.
"Agility" considers the efficient mobilisation of academia and industry to provide a stream of technology and products at the timelines and scale to meet the naval customer’s needs.
This theme reflects a critical tension raised by the wider undersea defence technology community: while there is increasing interest in advanced technologies, from artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomous platforms to distributed sensing and electric propulsion, success hinges not only on innovation but on how quickly and affordably these capabilities can be developed, procured and delivered at scale.
Please note: Applications for UDT 2026 will close on 6 October 2025. Late submissions will not be accepted.