L3Harris Technologies Announced as Diamond Sponsor for the SMI Conference 2026

The Society of Maritime Industries (SMI) is pleased to welcome L3Harris as a Diamond Sponsor for the SMI Conference 2026, the organisation’s annual flagship event, taking place on 17 February 2026 at the University of Strathclyde’s Technology & Innovation Centre in Glasgow. 

The SMI Conference provides a platform for senior leaders from industry, government and the wider maritime community to explore and debate the issues shaping the sector’s future, encouraging collaboration and insight that help drive the evolution of UK maritime capability. 

L3Harris’ sponsorship reflects its pivotal role in the UK maritime enterprise and its continued investment in advanced technologies that underpin future naval capability. As a trusted disruptor in the defence industry, L3Harris delivers end-to-end technology solutions across the space, air, land, sea and cyber domains, with customers’ mission-critical needs at the forefront. 

In the UK, L3Harris plays a leading maritime role, with teams based in Bristol, Portchester, Burgess Hill, Barrow and Faslane delivering surface and subsurface mission autonomy capability to the Royal Navy. The company also provides Integrated Platform Management Systems (IPMS) for major naval programmes including the Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers, Type 26 and Type 31 Frigates, and Astute Class Submarines. 

As part of the conference programme, SMI will welcome Stanley James BEng (Hons) MIET, Specialist Safety Engineer at L3 Harris Maritime UK, who will deliver a presentation “Safety Considerations of Operating an Autonomous Fleet”. The presentation will form part of the AI, Autonomy and Digitalisation session and will explore the safety challenges and engineering considerations associated with the deployment and operation of autonomous maritime systems at scale. 

On the sponsorship, Tom Chant MBE, Chief Executive of the Society of Maritime Industries, said: 

“The SMI Conference 2026 will place a strong emphasis on autonomy, digitalisation and the safe integration of emerging technologies into maritime operations. We are delighted to welcome L3Harris as a Diamond Sponsor and to have Stanley James contributing expert insight to the conference programme on the safety considerations that must underpin the future operation of autonomous fleets.” 

James Dunne, Managing Director, L3Harris Maritime UK, added: 

“The SMI Conference provides an important platform for meaningful discussion on the technologies and engineering disciplines that will shape the future of the maritime sector. We are proud to support the 2026 conference as a diamond sponsor and to contribute to the dialogue on autonomy and safety, drawing on L3Harris’ extensive experience delivering mission-critical maritime systems for the Royal Navy and allied customers.” 

Further details of the SMI Conference 2026 programme, including tickets and registration, can be found via the SMI website.