MS&D 2026 to focus on European maritime security, naval warfare and unmanned systems

The MS&D – International Conference & Expo on Maritime Security & Defence will bring together senior naval officials, maritime industry representatives and technology experts in Hamburg on 3 and 4 September 2026.

Held as part of SMM 2026, the two-day programme will examine European maritime capabilities, evolving naval warfare requirements, cybersecurity, underwater operations and the use of manned and unmanned systems.

A key speaker will be Vice Admiral Jan Christian Kaack, Chief of the German Navy, who is scheduled to deliver a keynote address on 3 September shortly before leaving office. His address will focus on the current security environment and the future direction of the German Navy. He will subsequently discuss the issues with Dr Sarah Kirchberger, Director of the Institute for Security Policy at Kiel University (ISPK).

Other speakers include Vice Admiral Carsten Stawitzki, National Armaments Director at the German Federal Ministry of Defence; Irina Haesler, Member of the Executive Board and Head of EU Representation at the German Shipowners’ Association (VDR); and Dr Oliver Juckenhöfel, Executive Vice President, Segment Surface Vessels at TKMS.

Senior representatives from other European navies are also scheduled to participate, including Rear Admiral Rémi Thomas, Deputy Chief of Naval Staff for Plans and Programs of the French Navy, and Rear Admiral J. F. Jeroen Hodes, Director of the Directorate of Materiel Sustainment of the Royal Netherlands Navy.

“With the MS&D Conference now taking place annually and the new Naval Hall B8, we are giving maritime security significantly greater prominence at SMM. The high-calibre two-day MS&D Conference remains the centrepiece. What is new is that the MS&D Expo and the four-day programme on the Naval Stage will extend its presence throughout SMM. This is how we are systematically expanding this area,” says Claus Ulrich Selbach, Vice President Exhibitions Maritime & Energy at Hamburg Messe und Congress.

European maritime capabilities and naval warfare

The conference will open on 3 September with the panel “Europe’s Maritime Capabilities”. Giovanni Cremonini, Head of Maritime Security Sector at the European External Action Service (EEAS), Dr Oliver Juckenhöfel and Irina Haesler will discuss the capability requirements facing Europe from the perspectives of security policy, industry and commercial shipping.

This will be followed by Admiral Kaack’s keynote address and a discussion on the future of the German Navy.

The “Maritime Warfare Requirements” panel will then examine the changing operational requirements of modern naval forces. Rear Admiral Rémi Thomas and Rear Admiral J. F. Jeroen Hodes are among the speakers scheduled for the session.

Underwater domain and critical infrastructure

The underwater domain will be another focus of MS&D 2026, particularly in the context of emerging threats and the protection of critical maritime infrastructure.

Prof. Dr May-Britt Stumbaum, Director of the SPEAR Institute, will moderate the “The Underwater Domain” panel. Participants will include Malte Kutscher of ELAC Sonar, Dr Moritz Lehmann of Starboard Intelligence and Alice Rowlands, Product Lead Perception at Helsing.

The discussion will examine technological developments and potential applications in underwater maritime security.

“The maritime security environment is changing at a rapid pace – and with it the requirements facing our navies. At MS&D, military decision-makers from different countries discuss with industry and technology experts which capabilities will be needed in the future and how they can be made available more quickly. This combination of operational perspectives and technological expertise makes this year’s programme particularly relevant,” says Rear Admiral (ret.) Karsten Schneider, President of the German Maritime Institute and Programme Director of the MS&D Conference.

Cybersecurity and maritime security technologies

The second day will begin with a keynote from Vice Admiral Carsten Stawitzki, focusing on current equipment and procurement requirements.

The “Current Developments of Maritime Security” panel will address the growing scope of maritime security, including cyber and information security.

The panel will feature Captain Sebastian Hamann of the German Armed Forces Operational Command, Stefan Langhammer of OHB Digital Connect, Annika Nevaste, CEO of DNV Cyber, and Haythem El Mir, CTO of Cypurge.

Manned and unmanned maritime systems

The conference will conclude with a discussion on manned and unmanned systems and their potential role in future maritime operations.

Rear Admiral Christian Bock, Head of the Bundeswehr Innovation Centre, Magnus Lunde of Kongsberg Discovery and Simon Volkmann of Eurobotics will discuss autonomous and unmanned technologies, emerging maritime capabilities and cooperation between armed forces and technology companies.

MS&D Expo and Naval Hall B8

Maritime security and defence activities will extend beyond the two-day conference during SMM 2026.

Naval Hall B8 will serve as the central location for the maritime security and defence programme from 1 to 4 September. The MS&D Conference will be held there on 3 and 4 September on the Naval Stage, while the MS&D Expo will run throughout all four days.

The expo will feature technologies, systems and solutions for maritime security and defence. Visitors will also be able to follow the Security & Defence Route, which connects exhibitors offering security and defence-related solutions across the SMM exhibition halls.

MS&D 2026 programme

Thursday, 3 September 2026

• Keynote by Vice Admiral Jan Christian Kaack, followed by a discussion with Dr Sarah Kirchberger
• Panel: “Maritime Warfare Requirements”
• Panel: “The Underwater Domain”

Friday, 4 September 2026

• Keynote by Vice Admiral Carsten Stawitzki
• Panel: “Current Developments of Maritime Security”
• Panel: “Manned and Unmanned Systems”