Representatives of European navies, decision-makers from the maritime industry and technology experts will gather in Hamburg on 3 and 4 September for the MS&D – International Conference & Expo on Maritime Security & Defence. Held as part of SMM, the conference will address Europe’s maritime capabilities, new requirements for naval warfare, cybersecurity, and manned and unmanned systems.
A particular highlight will be the appearance of Vice Admiral Jan Christian Kaack, Chief of the German Navy. Shortly before leaving office, Kaack will deliver a keynote address on Thursday, 3 September, focusing on the current security environment and the future of the German Navy. Afterwards, he will discuss these issues further with Dr Sarah Kirchberger, Director of the Institute for Security Policy at Kiel University (ISPK).
With 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, the programme brings together military, political and business perspectives. Other European navies will also be represented at senior level: 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, will be coming to Hamburg.
“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.
Europe’s maritime capabilities in focus
The conference programme on Thursday opens 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 requirements for Europe’s maritime capabilities. The panel brings together perspectives from European security policy, industry and commercial shipping.
Following Admiral Kaack’s keynote address, the panel “Maritime Warfare Requirements” will examine the requirements facing modern naval forces. Speakers include Rear Admiral Rémi Thomas and Rear Admiral J. F. Jeroen Hodes.
The underwater domain in focus
Against the backdrop of new threat scenarios and the need to protect critical maritime infrastructure, the underwater domain is becoming increasingly important. In the panel “The Underwater Domain”, Prof. Dr May-Britt Stumbaum, Director of the SPEAR Institute, will moderate a discussion with Malte Kutscher of ELAC Sonar, Dr Moritz Lehmann of Starboard Intelligence and Alice Rowlands, Product Lead Perception at Helsing, on technological developments and new applications.
“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, manned and unmanned systems
The second day of the conference begins with a keynote address by Vice Admiral Carsten Stawitzki. The focus will be on current requirements for equipment and procurement.
The panel “Current Developments of Maritime Security” illustrates just how broad the spectrum of maritime security has become. 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, will discuss current developments with a particular focus on cyber and information security.
The conference concludes by turning its attention to manned and unmanned systems. In the panel “Manned and Unmanned Systems”, Rear Admiral Christian Bock, Head of the Bundeswehr Innovation Centre, Magnus Lunde of Kongsberg Discovery and Simon Volkmann of Eurobotics will discuss how autonomous and unmanned technologies can enable new maritime capabilities and the role of cooperation between armed forces and technology companies.
MS&D as a meeting point for navies and industry
The Naval Hall B8 will serve as the central hub for maritime security and defence throughout SMM from 1 to 4 September. The MS&D Conference will take place there on 3 and 4 September on the Naval Stage. The accompanying MS&D Expo will showcase technologies, systems and solutions for maritime security and defence throughout the four days of SMM. In addition, the Security & Defence Route will guide visitors to companies offering security- and defence-related solutions across all SMM halls.
Conference programme at a glance
Thursday, 3 September 2026
- Keynote address by Vice Admiral Jan Christian Kaack followed by a discussion with Dr. Sarah Kirchberger
- Panel 2: Maritime Warfare Requirements
- Panel 3: The Underwater Domain
Friday, 4 September 2026
- Keynote address by Vice Admiral Carsten Stawitzki
- Panel 4: Current Developments of Maritime Security
- Panel 5: Manned and Unmanned Systems
