NATO Life Cycle Management Conference

In recent years, NATO nations have been on a buying spree where rapid procurement has been prioritized over, and sometimes in conflict with in-depth analysis and long-term planning. With the multi-million contracts signed and celebrated, industries and militaries now face the hard, complex, risky and unglamorous work of delivering systems and building them into effective, sustainable capabilities, interoperable within existing and emerging national and international frameworks.

Concurrently, new tools and trends are emerging in the form of the development and application of artificial intelligence, data driven analysis and machine learning, innovative economical schemes and models for cooperation, and a desire for more environmentally friendly solutions.

System Life Cycle Management provides the framework, processes and tools for structuring this monumental work and bringing it to a successful conclusion. The annual NATO LCM Conference will support the effort by presenting lessons learned, innovative approaches, new visions, developments, and achievements made by representatives of government, military, industry, and NATO in applying SLCM.

Scope of the Conference

According to NATO’s Systems Life Cycle Management (SLCM) policy the main goal of systems life cycle management is to deliver, use and maintain NATO capabilities efficiently and effectively. The application of SLCM is based on the following principles: Commitment to Systems Life Cycle Management, Cooperation and Interoperability, Efficiency, Collaboration with Industry, and Quality.

Considering these general principles, the 22st NATO LCM Conference will provide a platform for the presentation of innovative approaches and concepts in support of effective materiel management.

In addition to specialist presentations and papers the conference will provide ample opportunity for the exchange of information between and among experts, programme managers and decision makers from the nation’s armed forces, defence administration and industry.

The presentations will be supplemented by an exhibition, where interested parties are invited to showcase their respective capabilities. The publication European Defence & Security will be dedicated to the topic and provide the opportunity for advertising and/or marketing reports. In case of interest in the exhibition or advertising you will receive the special package.

The 22nd NATO Life Cycle Management Conference (LCM) will take place in Brussels from January 19 to 20, 2026. The conference will host more than 100 participants from all over the world and the different areas of Life Cycle Management. 

Don’t miss the event, a cooperation of Mittler Report Verlag with the NATO Life Cycle Management Group – supported by the NATO Industrial Advisory Group’s (NIAG) Industrial Interface Group (NIIG) – again at  Holiday Inn Brussels Airport.