DISC Session Summary: Drone Dominance Sustainment: Building North Carolina’s Industrial Base for Next-Generation Unmanned Systems

Wednesday, March 18, 2026 | 1:00–4:00 PM ET
Wake Technical Community College, RTP Campus | 10908 Chapel Hill Road, Building 1, Auditorium | Morrisville, NC 27560

Drone Dominance is a national priority to surge U.S. production of low cost, attritable small UAS and the secure components that make them viable at scale. Using phased Gauntlet style evaluations and rapid contracting, the effort is designed to move proven systems into units quickly and support sustained readiness. This DISC workshop advances a whole of state collaboration model connecting warfighters, government partners, academia, and industry to strengthen North Carolina’s role in drone manufacturing, sustainment, and validation. Informed by current operational lessons where drones drive sensing, target acquisition, and effects in contested spectrum conditions while operating under constant counter UAS pressure, the session focuses on what must be tested, produced, repaired, and replenished to keep formations ready. Discussion will also address autonomous systems in support of contested logistics and sustainment.

Participants will review how North Carolina’s industrial base and test ecosystem can support scalable production of airframes, electronics, propulsion, batteries, and mission systems, along with the sustainment pathways that keep systems operational. The workshop will also address the expanding national emphasis on UAS test capacity and safety data needed to accelerate integration and validation.

Speakers include:

  • Aerial Experimentation and Research Platform for Advanced Wireless (AERPAW)
  • Army Research Office
  • MMEC and Heightened Senses, LLC
  • Osprey Global Solutions
  • Raven Advisory, LLC
  • Tough Stump Technologies, LLC
  • U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS)
  • VX Aerospace
  • Wireless Research Center and RiOT Labs
  • XVIII Airborne Corps
  • More to be announced…

The Offices of US Senators Thom Tillis and Ted Budd, and the North Carolina Military Business Center are pleased to announce the Defense Industrial Sustainment for Combat Systems Summit (DISC) on March 18-19, 2026 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. 

When. March 18-19, 2026

Where. The University of North Carolina, The Friday Center, 100 Friday Center Drive, Chapel Hill NC 27517

Premise of the DISC Summit

  • The defense aerospace, ground vehicle, maritime and armaments markets represent tremendous business opportunity
  • OEMs, subcontractors, service providers and suppliers are often siloed in these market sectors
  • Future sustainment and supply chain resilience will require breaking silos, engaging new businesses and promoting dialogue among the defense industrial and R&D ecosystem

Goals of the DISC Summit:

  • Engaging current and prospective suppliers and service providers to leverage prime contracting opportunities with the Department of Defense and other federal agencies across these market silos
  • Engaging current and prospective suppliers to leverage subcontracting opportunities with OEMS/prime contractors across these market silos 
  • Informing the industrial/academia R&D ecosystem about future defense technology imperatives, and agencies about emerging and future technologies in these sectors
  •  Establishing a productive and DIRECT dialogue around critical issues in the defense industrial market – including supply chain, maintenance/repair/overhaul (MRO), workforce, inflation and barriers to entry

Who should participate:

  • Current OEMs, prime contractors, suppliers and service providers in the defense aerospace, ground vehicle, maritime, and armaments markets
  • Businesses considering engaging as an OEM, prime contractor, supplier and/or service provider within these markets
  • Industry and academia-based entities conducting R&D and new product development 
  • Federal and Defense agencies engaged in requirements generation, acquisition, sustainment, and R&D within these markets

Attendee and exhibitor registration is now open. Sponsorships are available. 

Register