Europe’s defence ambitions depend on how quickly governments and industry can deliver capability that works under pressure. That is the context for the Regional Defence and Security Summit 2026, taking place on 21 October at Sofia Event Center in Bulgaria.
Organised by Capital, the summit will bring together policymakers, defence businesses, technology companies and investors to discuss the region’s contribution to European security. Its focus on industrial cooperation, innovation and critical infrastructure makes it relevant to businesses across the defence supply chain, as well as organisations whose services support national resilience.
In his interview with Capital, General Sir Richard Barrons, UDSS Co-Founder and Co-Chair, sets out a concern that should inform these discussions: the gap between understanding what defence needs and delivering it quickly enough.
His assessment is that credible deterrence requires forces that are ready, supported by industry capable of sustaining them. Investment decisions therefore need to account for the time required to build production capacity, integrate new technologies and prepare people to use them.
For businesses, this raises a practical question. Where can they contribute to a defined operational requirement, and what must change before they can deliver at the necessary scale? The answer involves understanding military users, procurement expectations and the dependencies that could interrupt production or support.
The summit’s regional focus offers a useful setting for examining how Bulgaria and its neighbours can contribute to that effort. Its published themes include defence financing, industrial development and the route from emerging technology to procurement.
From a UDSS perspective, the value of cooperation lies in the capabilities it makes available. Partnerships should address identifiable gaps, clarify responsibilities and strengthen the ability to deliver. That requires an understanding of how a supplier’s contribution fits into wider defence requirements and allied operations.
Barrons’s interview also argues for European defence initiatives to remain integrated with NATO. For industry, that reinforces the importance of interoperability: equipment, data and support arrangements need to function within the systems that armed forces already use and the coalitions in which they operate.
Barrons describes warfare increasingly shaped by connected sensors and weapons, with crewed, uncrewed and increasingly autonomous systems working together. He also highlights the difficulty of preparing for technologies that can become obsolete rapidly.
Our view is that businesses need a close relationship with operational users and a credible route through testing, integration and production. A promising prototype must be assessed alongside the communications, training, maintenance and supply arrangements required to keep it effective.
This is particularly relevant to companies developing technologies with both civilian and military applications. Understanding the operational problem early can help them direct investment towards a capability that users can adopt and sustain.
The summit’s coverage of critical infrastructure and hybrid threats also connects defence readiness to the commercial sector. Defence production depends on reliable energy, transport and digital services. A disruption to a specialist supplier or logistics route can affect delivery well beyond the organisation first hit.
Organisations should examine those dependencies before a crisis. Scenario exercises can test how leaders would respond to a cyber incident, supplier failure or prolonged loss of infrastructure. The purpose is to identify weak assumptions, establish workable alternatives and prioritise improvements.
UDSS brings defence and security experience to organisations making these decisions. We support governments and businesses with defence market analysis, modernisation advice, risk assessment and supply chain resilience. Our expertise in decision support and senior leader development helps organisations examine their plans and strengthen their ability to respond under pressure.
As the summit approaches, the opportunity for industry is to connect investment and partnerships to clear operational needs. UDSS can help organisations understand those needs, assess their exposure to disruption and improve the resilience required to deliver.
Contact UDSS at info@universal-defence.com to discuss defence opportunities, strategic risk and organisational resilience.
Explore the programme and registration details: https://www.capital.bg/en/event/346-regional-defence-and-security-summit-2026