The Optica Industry Summit on Aerospace & Defense 2026, organised by Optica and hosted by Exail at IXCAMPUS near Paris, will bring together international leaders from the photonics, aerospace and defence sectors on 9–10 December 2026.

The two-day summit will explore how photonics technologies are enabling next-generation aerospace and defence capabilities, with a particular focus on translating research and innovation into operational systems.

Key themes include:

• Sensing and surveillance: Optical sensing, remote sensing, imaging and intelligence systems for aerospace and defence platforms.
• Optical and quantum communications: Secure optical communications and quantum-enabled technologies.
• Navigation and autonomy: Resilient positioning, navigation and autonomous systems.
• Directed energy: High-power lasers and their operational deployment.
• Industrial capabilities: Sovereign capabilities, supply chains, manufacturing scale-up and dual-use innovation.

The programme features keynote speakers from leading organisations including Lockheed Martin, Exail, TTM Technologies and Toshiba, alongside industry discussions and networking opportunities.

For the UK photonics community, the summit offers an opportunity to engage with international partners, understand emerging aerospace and defence requirements, and explore opportunities for collaboration across European and global photonics supply chains.

Further information and registration: Visit the official Optica event website