Military Vehicle Systems Summit 2026

The 6th Annual Military Vehicle Systems Summit will bring together senior military leaders, engineers, acquisition professionals, industry representatives, and academics to examine the development, modernization, and sustainment of next-generation ground combat platforms.

Developed in partnership with the National Advanced Mobility Consortium (NAMC), the summit will address programs and platforms including the XM30, M-1E3 Abrams, Amphibious Combat Vehicle, SOF mobility platforms, and connected combat vehicles.

Sessions will examine how military organizations are moving capabilities from initial concepts and prototypes into operational use through rapid prototyping, digital engineering, acquisition, and closer integration between requirements and science and technology communities.

The event will also consider modernization and readiness for high-intensity ground combat, including the integration of vehicles, sensors, autonomy, and command-and-control systems into brigade, division, and joint operations.

The summit 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 be held November 18-19, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan.

Themes

The summit will examine the modernization of military ground vehicle fleets and the operational requirements shaping future combat platforms.

Topics include preparing warfighters and maneuver formations for high-intensity ground combat, digital engineering for next-generation ground vehicles, vehicle fleet sustainment, and the development and delivery of future capabilities.

The program will also examine unmanned ground vehicles and mission autonomy, the integration of AI-enabled systems, innovative funding and technology pathways, and collaboration between government organizations and original equipment manufacturers.

Discussions will cover how legacy fleets can be modernized while new systems move from prototype development toward programs of record.

What’s On?

The two-day summit will feature presentations, discussions, and interactive sessions addressing military vehicle development, acquisition, sustainment, and operational integration.

Participants will hear from representatives involved in organizations and programs across TACOM, DEVCOM, the Marine Corps, and other military and defense organizations.

Technical and strategic discussions will cover vehicle manufacturing, systems engineering, power and mobility, survivability, connected vehicle ecosystems, autonomy, digital twins, and rapid capability fielding.

Ground Combat Vehicle Modernization

The summit will explore modernization programs including XM30, M1E3 Abrams, and the Amphibious Combat Vehicle, alongside wider work to sustain and upgrade existing military vehicle fleets.

Sessions will examine how new vehicle technologies are being incorporated while military organizations continue to balance modernization requirements with operational readiness.

Digital Engineering and Rapid Fielding

Digital engineering and digital twins will form part of discussions on how future ground combat platforms can be designed, tested, integrated, and sustained.

The agenda will also address rapid prototyping and innovation pathways including Army FUZE and the Pathway for Innovation and Technology.

Mission Autonomy

The program will examine the development of Human-Machine Integrated Formations, unmanned ground vehicles, robotic controllers, and AI-enabled systems.

Sessions will consider how these technologies can be integrated with wider vehicle and combat formations and how mission autonomy may be deployed at scale.

Speakers

Confirmed speakers 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.

The program will also feature 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.

Further confirmed participants include Scott Bishop, Acting Executive Director of TACOM’s Integrated Logistics Support Center; 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.

LTG (R) Joseph Anderson 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 participants are charged an admission fee.

The summit is closed to the press and recordings are prohibited.

Where is the Military Vehicle Systems Summit?

The 2026 Military Vehicle Systems Summit will take place 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 .