UK National Armaments Director Rupert Pearce to Deliver Keynote Address at DPRTE 2026

November 10, 2025

Organisers of Defence Procurement, Research, Technology & Exportability (DPRTE) 2026 have today announced that the newly appointed UK National Armaments Director (NAD), Rupert Pearce, will deliver a keynote address at the event. This major announcement places the government’s ambitious procurement reform and industrial strategy at the very centre of the agenda for the UK’s leading defence procurement and supply chain event.

The appointment of Mr Pearce as a confirmed speaker signals a powerful focus on the most significant transformation of UK defence procurement in over fifty years. His role, directly accountable to the Defence Secretary, is to lead the NAD Group in delivering the national arsenal required by the UK Armed Forces. For the many suppliers attending DPRTE, this session will provide invaluable, first-hand insight into the strategic direction of the Ministry of Defence and its future relationship with its industrial partners. Mr Pearce is explicitly tasked with transforming this relationship to ensure the UK defence industry becomes a strategic asset that can innovate at pace and drive economic growth.

Delegates will have the opportunity to hear directly from the individual responsible for delivering the Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS), ensuring a resilient national supply chain, and leading acquisition reform. Mr Pearce’s comes at a time of change, with reforms to speed up procurement, reduce duplication, and improve outcomes. A key element of this reform is the consolidation of eight separate procurement budgets into a single new investment budget, a structural change that will have profound implications for every business operating in, or seeking to enter, the defence sector.

A spokesperson for DPRTE commented: “We are delighted to confirm Rupert Pearce as a keynote speaker for DPRTE 2026. As the individual tasked with leading the most significant transformation of UK defence acquisition in a generation, his perspective is of unparalleled importance to our audience. This session will provide the defence supply chain with a direct and unique opportunity to understand the strategic priorities that will shape the future of the UK’s defence industrial base. His presence underscores DPRTE’s role as the critical forum for engagement between the MOD and its entire supplier network.”

This announcement unequivocally positions DPRTE 2026 as the essential platform for understanding the future of UK defence procurement and industrial policy. Further speaker confirmations are expected to be released in the coming weeks.

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