Postponed to March 2009, date to be confirmed: Transatlantic Defence Acquisition Symposium

09:00, 11 - 12 Nov 2008
RUSI, Whitehall, London, SW1A 2ET

Link to map: multimap

About the event:

TRANSATLANTIC DEFENCE ACQUISITION SYMPOSIUM 2008

A NEW US PRESIDENCY: PROSPECTS FOR CO-OPERATION IN TRANSATLANTIC ACQUISITION
A Snapshot Immediately After the Vote

The US remains, by far, the biggest single customer for military hardware and this is unlikely to change regardless of who is elected the next American President on 4 November 2008. Nevertheless, procurement policies may change and, with them, the transatlantic debate over the defence acquisition may also be overhauled. Nor do the US elections provide the only impetus for change: the deep rethink in French defence and security policies also has a direct bearing on transatlantic co-operation. And the UK’s recent Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS) and Acquisition Change Programme provide an additional layer of very distinctive reforms in acquisition policy and practice.

This two-day RUSI conference – the latest in RUSI’s series of annual Acquisition Symposia – is deliberately timed to take place immediately after the US Elections, but in good time to inform the incoming Administration and Congress as the new US Government prepares a refreshed vision for acquisition.

The Symposium, which will be an exchange of views among suppliers, government customers, analysts and other policy shapers will address the following issues:

• The evolution of defence industries in Europe and North America and, in particular, transnational aspects
• The Defence Trade Cooperation Treaty
• National sovereignty in retaining industrial capability onshore
• The management of technology transfer
• National approaches to transatlantic acquisition
• Effectively reaching out to Congress
• Experiences of European companies trading in the US and vice versa
• The programme of invited speakers includes ministers, politicians, policy makers, academics, senior military officials and industrial representatives from both sides of the Atlantic.

For details regarding sponsorship or the programme, please contact Richard Winstanley on richardw@rusi.org or +44 (0)20 7747 2630.

Alternatively, contact Kate Clouston on katec@rusi.org or +44 (0)20 7747 2640.

Event manager: Sabrina Downey