Advantage through undersea technology 

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.

Submission topics propositions

We invite submissions that provide practical insights into the application of technology in real world scenarios, the integration of autonomous systems into naval force structures, and the challenges of achieving agility at pace and scale. We are particularly interested in proposals that explore cross-domain integration, artificial intelligence (AI) driven decision-making, undersea infrastructure protection, collaborative autonomy, and innovative approaches to capability development. 

Submissions must align with one of the five sub-themes below: 

This crucial sub-theme explores the changing balance of factors that navies must understand to achieve and sustain their advantage in the Undersea Battlespace.  That advantage may be in exploiting the undersea environment or preventing an opponent doing so.   

Aspects include: 

  • The impact of a changing strategic environment and complex, environmental extremes in the undersea battlespace. 

  • Identification and management of evolving threats and the need for rapid response and assurance of target defeat in congested subsea theatres. 

  • Modern Anti-Submarine and Anti-Surface ISR & Warfare (ASW and ASuW), including survivability, stealth and offensive operations. 

  • Seabed (SBW) and mine warfare (MW) including area defence and protection of critical undersea Infrastructure. 

  • Training, evaluation and testing, capability sustainment.

  • Multi-vehicle, system and domain integration.

This sub-theme examines how technologies and knowledge from different domains and disciplines can be integrated to deliver smarter, more resilient undersea defence solutions: 

  • Cross-domain innovation (including integration of seabed to space, cyber, air-maritime integration). 

  • Climate and oceanographic science with defence implications. 

  • Artificial intelligence data-driven decision support: big data analytics, automated data classification, anomaly detection and sensor data processing.  

  • Data science, digital twins, and decision support tools.

  • Advanced materials, energy systems, bio-mimetics and sustainable technology.

  • Human performance in undersea operations (e.g. diving, psychology, health).

  • Multi-use technologies that could be adapted for defence needs and advance defence capabilities.

This sub-theme focuses on the development, integration and sustainment of crewed platforms, autonomous, uncrewed, and remotely operated vehicles. 

  • Programme-level development, build and sustainment of submarines and autonomous and uncrewed vehicles and their systems.

  • Improvements in stealthy operation, efficient propulsion, endurance, navigation, human factors and habitability, supportability, modularity and communications arrangements. 

  • Integration of autonomous, uncrewed and remotely operated vehicles to into the force structure to maximise advantage in the undersea domain, including extending reach, endurance and functionality. 

  • Energetics for long-duration missions, low-power operations, and green propulsion. 

  • Collaborative autonomy, i.e. multi-platform coordination and control.

  • Navigation and detection in complex undersea environments. 

  • Incorporating autonomy into existing fleets, CMSs and C2 infrastructure.  

Sensors, weapons and countermeasures addresses the interdependent challenges needed to deal with emerging threats in dense and dynamic subsea environments.  Aspects of interest include: 

  • Combat management systems including AI enabled decision support: big data analytics, automated data classification, anomaly detection and sensor data processing 

  • Collaborative autonomy and seamless incorporation into existing C2 frameworks 

  • Developments in undersea sensing and in acoustic and electronic warfare 

  • Modularity and adaptability in weapons and payload integration 

  • Next generation torpedoes, smart payloads and delivery platforms  

  • Advanced defensive systems and countermeasures 

Innovation and investment address the urgent need to co-opt new sectors and suppliers, ideas and technologies to introduce complementary solutions and manage bespoke developments to enable production at scale and time to contribute to the challenging undersea defence arena. 

  • Artificial intelligence and autonomy.

  • Quantum science and their applications (e.g. computing, navigation and communications).

  • Industry-government collaboration and trust-building. 

  • Broad and agile research & development and procurement, including practicable management of the demand pull and technology push paradigm for long duration submarine and short duration uncrewed vehicle programmes. 

  • Accelerated procurement models, including modular upgrades and COTS adaptation, including lifecycle costs, sustainability.

  • Providing scale and depth of research, production and support arrangements and infrastructures. 

  • New solutions and innovations to offset industrial and personnel constraints. 

  • Budget optimisation and innovation under funding pressures. 

 

Advantages of becoming a speaker

  • Showcase your research and innovation.
  • A platform to be seen as an industry thought leader.
  • Share your insight and raise awareness of the industry challenges.
  • Be heard by a broad audience of senior leaders in the government, military and undersea technology community.
  • Receive mentorship and guidance from our technical conference committee members on your paper.
  • Attend the conference for free and network at the exhibition.
  • Be in the running to win the Best Paper or Best Newcomer awards.
     

 

presentation at UDT

Submission process and requirement

Speaker applications will close on 6th October 2025. The technical conference committee will review all submissions and set the UDT 2026 conference agenda. All applicants will be contacted in November. If you have any questions, please contact UDT.Speakers@clarionevents.com.


 

technical-paper

Stage 1
Abstract proposal

In a clear and concise paragraph, outline the technical challenge you want to address, the methodology for tackling it, key findings you have uncovered, and provide a comprehensive summary.  

This initial impression is crucial for grabbing the reviewers' attention and ensuring you secure your spot at the conference. 


What do I need to submit:

  • Abstract Title
  • Speaker Details 
  • Abstract proposal
    (250 - 500 words max.)
  • Key Takeaways
    (3 - 4 bullet-points) 

Deadline: 6th October 2025

tech-paper

Stage 2
Draft submission 

If your abstract is accepted, you are invited to submit a full paper detailing your methodology and findings, highlighting their relevance to the field, and accompanied by engaging presentation slides in line with the template provided.

Your assigned moderator will review the draft paper and slides for clarity, quality, and engagement before final approval.


What do I need to submit:

Deadline: 9th January 2026

tech-paper

Stage 3
Final submission and presentation

After considering the assigned moderator’s feedback and updating your paper and slides accordingly, you will then have the opportunity to submit both for final approval by your moderator.

Your paper and slides will be shared with the conference delegates after the event.


What do I need to submit:

  • FINAL Technical Paper PDF
    (2-6 Pages)
  • FINAL Presentation
    (recommend up to 20 slides)

Deadline: 20th March 2025

Please note: if successful in your submission, your abstract proposal title and key takeaways will be used in marketing materials to promote your session at UDT 2026, this includes our agenda. In addition, please ensure you download and read the "UDT Submission Guideline" document below before applying to speak.


 

Why attend the conference?

  • Discover how emerging undersea technologies are delivering operational advantage in complex, contested environments. 

  • Hear from senior defence leaders and technical experts on current challenges, innovations, and strategic priorities. 

  • Learn from real-world case studies on autonomy, AI, sensing, and modular systems driving capability at scale. 

  • Explore the defence potential of dual-use and cross-domain technologies adapted for the undersea battlespace. 

  • Connect with global stakeholders to shape the future of undersea defence through collaboration and innovation. 

audience UDT

The Chatham House Rule

The Chatham House Rule is not in effect by default. Speakers retain the right to invoke it at the beginning of their presentation and will last for the duration of that presentation only. At no point is recording equipment of any kind permitted to be used in any conference room. This includes filming and audio recording. Photos are permitted provided there is no flash.

There will be no official recordings by event organisers of individual presentations and no guarantee of official photographs of presentations to follow after.