The theme for this year’s UDT Australia conference has been unveiled, setting the agenda for how the future of undersea defence capability will be designed, developed and delivered.

Under the banner Engineering the Undersea Future, the conference will explore how emerging technologies are translated from concept into operational capability, a critical challenge for defence forces globally.

UDT Australia will take place in Adelaide from 2-4 December 2026, bringing together leaders from across government, navy, industry and academia to examine the next generation of undersea systems and capability.

The event marks the first time in its 37-year history that UDT will be held outside Europe, reinforcing South Australia’s growing role in the global undersea defence landscape.

The conference and exhibition come at a critical time for the Asia-Pacific region as maritime environments grow more complex and demand for advanced, integrated and sovereign undersea capabilities increases.

Discussions will focus on priorities including autonomous systems, subsea infrastructure protection, advanced sensing and integrated maritime systems that are critical to meeting evolving operational demands.

A strong emphasis will be placed on translating innovation into real-world capability. Through technical presentations, case studies and panel discussions, attendees will gain insight into technological developments, lessons learned and the pathways required to test, integrate and scale new systems.

Sessions will examine current capabilities across areas such as autonomous and unmanned systems, sensors, weapons and digital integration, while also looking ahead to future undersea capability development.

Workforce capability will also be a key focus, recognising the growing demand for engineers, scientists and technical specialists to support expanding undersea programs.

A dedicated steering committee has been established to ensure the program aligns with Australia’s defence priorities and broader sector needs. The committee includes representatives from Defence SA, the Australian Submarine Agency, the Australian Defence Teaming Centre and the Royal Australian Navy, and is guiding key themes across autonomy, application, agility and human factors.

With Adelaide confirmed as host of UDT from 2026-2028, the event will support continued collaboration and knowledge exchange across Australia’s undersea defence, research and industry sectors.

Get involved

Industry is encouraged to participate in UDT Australia by attending the conference, exhibiting technologies, sponsoring the event or engaging with stakeholders from across the global undersea defence community. Organisations can also submit abstracts to present research and innovation, with submissions closing 1 June 2026.

Attending this year’s event provides an opportunity to build long-term relationships with leaders across the undersea defence community.

For more information, visit the UDT Australia website.