Navy's technology needs to be detailed at fall industry event

Defense industry professionals will have the opportunity to learn about the Navy's technology needs, including for unmanned systems at the Program Executive Officer for Unmanned Aviation and Strike Weapons' Industry Event 2023 next month.

The PEO(U&W) is hosting the event Sept. 26-28 in Maryland as both an in-person and virtual conference, according to an updated contract opportunity special notice.

The notice, issued Wednesday, is a request for information to identify “potential technologies and capabilities to consider for the future of the Navy from industry.”

The three-day forum is for industry participants to hear firsthand about the technology needs of Naval Air Systems Command, PEO(U&W) and of the “Navy’s unmanned community with the potential for follow-up for briefings,” according to the notice.

The briefings will collect information on technology that industry has developed, the notice stated.

Advance registration is required for each day of the forum.

Opening day is restricted to attendees with final secret-level clearance and will be held in-person only at a site on or near Naval Air Station Patuxent River, MD.

“Only contractors or subcontractors performing a current DOD or federal intelligence community contract” are permitted, the notice stated.

Individuals need to be registered with their clearance verified to attend the first day of the forum. All registration and security verification materials for day-one attendance need to be submitted by Sept. 18, according to the notice.

Day one topics will cover “the threat, the fight tonight and the fight tomorrow and how industry can help,” the notice said.

The rest of the event is unclassified and open to registered participants, with sessions held in-person and available for live-streaming online. Details will be made available on the registration website.

Day two activities will cover the following:

• PEO(U&W) portfolio review of strike weapons, targets and mission planning followed by a panel discussion and Q&A session;
• “Rapid capability insertion” with information on upcoming exercises and events and how industry can participate. Capability briefs will be provided by naval air warfare centers (both aircraft and weapons divisions), fleet readiness centers and the Office of Naval Research. A panel discussion and Q&A session will follow.

• Presentations on supporting small businesses. Additional presentations and Q&As may also take place.

Day three comprises the second Navy industry outreach event as required under the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act and is described as a “follow-on” to the Navy’s March 1-3 unmanned industry event.

Day three will also include a PEO(U&W) portfolio review of unmanned aviation and mission planning. There will be presentations on aviation, surface and subsurface unmanned systems, AI and autonomy.