Military Vehicle Systems Summit 2026
The 6th Annual Military Vehicle Systems Summit will take place in Detroit, bringing together senior military leaders, engineers, acquisition professionals, industry representatives, and academics to examine the development and sustainment of next-generation ground platforms.
Developed in partnership with the National Advanced Mobility Consortium (NAMC), the event will cover platforms including the XM30, M-1E3 Abrams, Amphibious Combat Vehicle, SOF mobility platforms, and connected combat vehicles.
The 2026 program will also examine unmanned ground vehicles, mission autonomy, AI-enabled systems, and common robotic controllers, alongside rapid prototyping, digital engineering, vehicle integration, power and mobility, and survivability.
Discussions will consider how new vehicles, sensors, and command-and-control architectures can be integrated into brigade, division, and joint operations while military formations prepare for high-intensity ground combat.
The event is closed to the press, recordings are not permitted, and the Chatham House Rule applies.
When is the Military Vehicle Systems Summit?
The Military Vehicle Systems Summit will take place November 18-19, 2026.
Themes
The 2026 agenda will address preparations for high-intensity ground combat and the modernization of military vehicle fleets.
A major focus will be the operational use of unmanned ground vehicles to achieve mission autonomy at scale, including the Army’s move toward Human-Machine Integrated Formations and the integration of robotic controllers and AI-enabled systems.
Other subjects include digital engineering for next-generation ground combat vehicles, sustaining future ground fleets, innovation and technology pathways, and cooperation between original equipment manufacturers and government organizations to support the ground vehicle industrial base.
The summit will also examine how programs including XM30, M1E3 Abrams, Amphibious Combat Vehicle, robotics, and connected vehicle systems move from concepts and prototypes toward fielded capabilities.
What’s On?
The Military Vehicle Systems Summit will feature presentations and discussions from senior representatives across the military services, government, industry, and academia.
Sessions will explore vehicle manufacturing, systems engineering, autonomy, power and mobility, survivability, digital twins, rapid fielding, acquisition, and technology integration.
Attendees will also have opportunities to engage with speakers and other participants during interactive sessions and networking periods.
Military Vehicle Innovation and Acquisition
The program will examine how requirements, science and technology, and acquisition communities are working to accelerate the development and fielding of military vehicle capabilities.
Topics include the Army’s Pathway for Innovation and Technology, Army FUZE, rapid prototyping, digital engineering, and the transition of new technologies into operational programs.
Unmanned Ground Vehicles and Mission Autonomy
Sessions will address the operational deployment of unmanned ground vehicles and the development of mission autonomy at scale.
The agenda includes the integration of robotic vehicles, AI-enabled systems, and common robotic controllers into Human-Machine Integrated Formations, with a focus on reducing risk to personnel and supporting future ground operations.
Speakers
Confirmed speakers for Military Vehicle Systems Summit 2026 include MG Colin Tuley, USA, Commanding General of the United States Army Maneuver Center of Excellence and Fort Benning and Portfolio Acquisition Executive for Maneuver Ground; Jesse Tolleson, SES, Principal Deputy, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology; and Stephen Bowdren, SES, Executive Director, PAE, USMC.
Additional speakers include BG Anthony Gibbs, USA, Capability Portfolio Executive for Mission Autonomy; Dr. Peter Schihl, ST, Senior Technical Expert at the Ground Vehicle Power and Mobility Laboratory, Ground Vehicle Systems Center, U.S. Army DEVCOM; Col Nicholas Lozar, USMC, Commanding Officer of Marine Depot Maintenance Command; and COL Christopher Masson, USA, Commander of Red River Army Depot.
The speaker lineup also includes Scott Bishop, Acting Executive Director of the Integrated Logistics Support Center at TACOM; Hon. Katrina McFarland, former Acting Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology; LTG (R) Pat O’Reilly, USA, Operating Partner at SHIELD Capital; Andrew Sierra, Partner at McKinsey & Company; and LTG (R) Joseph Anderson, USA, President and CEO of Rafael Systems Global Sustainment, LLC and former U.S. Army Deputy Chief of Staff G-3/5/7, who will serve as event moderator.
Who Can Attend?
The summit is open and complimentary to Department of War and Federal employees and is described as an educational training forum and widely attended gathering.
Industry and academia attendees are charged an admission fee.
The event is closed to the press and recordings are not permitted.
Where is the Military Vehicle Systems Summit?
The summit will be held at:
Gem Theatre
333 Madison St
Detroit, MI
United States
To learn more about Military Vehicle Systems Summit 2026, to register to attend or exhibit, please click below .
