The Navy said its Program Executive Officer for Unmanned Aviation and Strike Weapons (PEO(U&W)) will hold an industry event in late September to help industry learn about the service’s unmanned aircraft systems needs going forward.
The notice, published Aug. 7, said the event will specifically “provide opportunities for industry to learn about the technology needs of the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), PEO(U&W) and the Navy’s Unmanned Community.”
The event will occur Sept. 26-28, with the first day limited to secret classification level while days two and three will be unclassified and open to the public. It will take place near Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., and virtually.
The service plans for potential follow-on briefings as well related to specific technologies industry has developed.
The third day of the event will notably be a follow-on to an earlier unmanned Navy industry event in March and will count as the second Navy Department industry outreach event required by the fiscal year 2023 defense authorization act.
Although listed at the secret level, the Day 1 focus areas will consist of briefings called the threat; the fight tonight and the fight tomorrow; and how industry can help.
Day Two of the event will cover topics including a PEO(U&W) Portfolio Review of Strike Weapons, Targets & Mission Planning with questions and answers; “Rapid Capability Insertion” with presentations on upcoming exercises and events and how industry can participate; and presentations on supporting small businesses.
The Day Three agenda will cover a PEO(U&W) portfolio review of unmanned aviation and mission planning with presentations on aviation, surface and subsurface unmanned systems, and autonomy and artificial intelligence.
Registrations are due by Sept. 18 for in-person attendance or Sept. 22 for virtual attendance.