Aerospace & Defense Summit 2026: Manufacturing Under Pressure

Aerospace & Defense Manufacturing & R&D Summit
Park Hyatt Aviara Resort, Golf Club & Spa
San Diego, CA, USA
November 16-17, 2026

The aerospace and defense manufacturing sector is operating in one of the most demanding environments in recent memory. Defense budgets are rising across NATO and allied nations in response to shifting geopolitical conditions, while commercial aerospace is managing a sustained production ramp-up following years of pandemic-related disruption. At the same time, manufacturers are being asked to accelerate digital adoption, address workforce gaps, and rebuild supply chain depth, often simultaneously and under significant program pressure.

The Aerospace & Defense Manufacturing & R&D Summit 2026, hosted by Marcus Evans on November 16-17 at the Park Hyatt Aviara Resort in San Diego, is designed to bring senior leaders together in a focused, closed-door setting to address these priorities through peer exchange, practical case studies, and direct engagement with aligned solution providers.

The Industry Context

Several converging trends are defining the strategic agenda for aerospace and defense manufacturing and R&D leaders in 2026:

Defense Spending and Production Demand

Global defense spending reached record levels in 2024 and has continued to grow into 2025 and 2026, driven by increased procurement across Europe, the Indo-Pacific, and North America. For manufacturers, this translates into higher production volumes, accelerated program timelines, and pressure on existing capacity and supplier networks. Meeting this demand while maintaining quality and cost discipline is one of the defining operational challenges of the current period.

Digital Transformation and Data Integrity

The adoption of digital manufacturing tools, including model-based engineering, digital twins, advanced analytics, and AI-assisted quality systems, is accelerating across the sector. However, the challenge for most organizations is not access to technology but the ability to implement it at scale while maintaining data integrity, managing legacy system integration, and building the internal capability to sustain and evolve these tools over time.

Supply Chain Resilience and Visibility

Aerospace and defense supply chains remain under significant stress. Tier 2 and Tier 3 supplier capacity constraints, raw material availability, and the concentration of certain critical components in limited geographic regions continue to create risk for prime contractors and system integrators. Building greater visibility into multi-tier supply chains and developing more collaborative supplier relationships are priorities that appear consistently across the industry's strategic agendas.

Workforce Development and Talent Retention

The aerospace and defense manufacturing workforce is facing a generational transition. A significant portion of experienced engineers and skilled tradespeople are approaching retirement, while competition for early-career talent with relevant digital and technical skills is intensifying. Organizations are investing in structured knowledge transfer programs, apprenticeship models, and partnerships with academic institutions to address this gap, but the challenge remains significant across the sector.

Geopolitical and Regulatory Risk

Export control requirements, foreign ownership restrictions, and shifting international trade conditions are creating a more complex operating environment for aerospace and defense manufacturers with global supply chains or international program commitments. Staying ahead of regulatory changes while maintaining program delivery and cost performance requires close coordination between operations, legal, and government affairs functions.

Additive Manufacturing and Advanced Materials

Additive manufacturing has moved from prototype applications into production environments across a growing number of aerospace and defense programs. The ability to produce complex geometries, reduce part counts, and shorten lead times is driving broader adoption, particularly for lower-volume, high-complexity components. Alongside this, advanced composite materials and next-generation alloys are enabling lighter, more durable structures that support both performance and lifecycle cost objectives.

How the Summit Addresses These Themes

The Aerospace & Defense Manufacturing & R&D Summit 2026 is structured to address each of these themes in a format that goes beyond panel discussions and keynote presentations. The invitation-only format ensures that participants are senior decision-makers who are actively managing these challenges within their organizations, creating the conditions for candid, substantive dialogue.

Sessions are designed around the specific priorities identified through Marcus Evans' ongoing engagement with participating executives, ensuring that the program reflects current and real operational concerns rather than broad industry topics. Structured one-on-one meetings with solution providers give executives direct access to relevant capabilities, while peer roundtables and networking sessions support informal exchange between leaders facing similar challenges across different organizations.

The result is a program that connects long-term strategic thinking with practical, near-term execution, giving attendees both perspective and tools they can apply directly within their organizations.

About Marcus Evans

Marcus Evans is a global media, corporate marketing, and information company with over 40 years of experience producing premium business events. The company operates across 59 locations worldwide and is recognized for connecting senior executives with the intelligence and partnerships needed to drive organizational performance.

See the full program of the upcoming Aerospace & Defense Manufacturing & R&D Summit - Apply here to request more details.