Air Chiefs Conference Discusses Hypersonic Weapons, AI, Other Advanced Tech

: Nov 17, 2025 - : 6:32 am

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The 12th edition of the Dubai International Air Chiefs Conference, held on the eve of the Dubai Airshow, saw senior officers from the UAE Ministry of Defence, Air Force commanders, Chiefs of Staff from friendly and allied nations, and more than 100 official delegations from around the world discuss topics such as hypersonic technology, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and artificial intelligence (AI).

Mohamed bin Mubarak bin Fadhel Al Mazrouei, UAE Minister of State for Defence Affairs, inaugurated the 12th edition of the Dubai International Air Chiefs Conference. Speakers at the event emphasised the importance of developing operational integration concepts between air and space power, and enhancing research and innovation investments in AI, unmanned systems, and hypersonic technologies – emphasising their role as key drivers redefining future defence superiority.

The conference was organised by the UAE Ministry of Defence in strategic partnership with ADNEC Group. Major General Mohammed Salem Ali Al Hameli, Deputy Commander of the UAE Air Force and Air Defence, welcomed the gathering. The opening ceremony was attended by Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Sports and Chairman of the UAE Space Agency; Lt. General (Staff) Ibrahim Nasser Al Alawi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Defence; and Major General Rashid Mohammed Al Shamsi, Commander of the UAE Air Force and Air Defence.

“The UAE is positioned today as a global partner, a capability builder and a place where both leading giants and aspiring start-ups can grow their business with confidence,” said Al Mazrouei. “Over the past two years, the UAE has committed huge investments in defence procurement and technology partnerships. These investments build localised capability, create high-value employment, and strengthen the UAE’s role as a regional hub for advanced defence manufacturing. Today, we are at a technology inflection point. We are living through a shift as significant as the arrival of jet propulsion.”

Joseph Guastella, Corporate Vice President and Regional Executive for Europe and Middle East at Northrop Grumman, was the moderator of the first session that featured Major General Rashid Mohammed Al Shamsi, Commander of the UAE Air Force and Air Defence. General Adrian L. Spain, Commander of the US Air Combat Command, discussed hypersonics in the modern fight, speed, precision, and integration. General Jérôme Bellanger, Chief of the Staff of the French Air Force and Space, addressed the strategic adaptation of preparing air forces for disruption at scale. The session concluded with remarks by Lieutenant General J.R. Speiser-Blanchet, Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force.

The second session – ‘Beyond the Atmosphere: Integrating Air and Space Capabilities for Strategic Superiority,’ had Mike Shoemaker, Vice President and General Manager of the Integrated Fighter Group at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, as the moderator. Major General Vincent Chusseau, Commander of the French Space Command, Eng. Salem Butti Al Qubaisi, Director General of the UAE Space Agency, Air Marshal Stephen Chappell, Chief of the Royal Australian Air Force, and Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari, Vice Chief of Air Staff, Indian Air Force, participated.

Dr. Chaouki Kasmi, President of Technology and Innovation at EDGE Group, was the moderator of the third session — ‘The Warfighter of Tomorrow: Standards, Artificial Intelligence, and Accountability in Next-Generation Airpower.’ Major General Jonas Wickman, Commander of the Swedish Air Force; General Son Sug Rag, Chief of Staff of the Republic of Korea Air Force; Lieutenant General Antonio Conserva, Chief of the Italian Air Forces; and Peter Hays from the Space Policy Institute at George Washington University addressed the audience.