AeroDef Manufacturing 2025 Comes to Detroit

AeroDef Manufacturing 2025, an event focused on advancing the aerospace and defense industries, will be held in Detroit’s Huntington Place, April 8-10, 2025. Produced by SME, this event seeks to cover all facets of defense manufacturing―land, air, sea and space.

This 3-day event features advanced technology exhibits, and educational sessions from manufacturing industry experts and aerospace and defense leaders. The information and insight shared at AeroDef Manufacturing’s conference tracks and its AeroDef Manufacturing Deck presentation sessions will address relevant topics, according to SME. 

AeroDef Manufacturing’s Deck will feature such topics as the future of land systems, quality standards (federal and commercial), U.S. Department of Defense sustainment gaps and solutions, workforce development and other critical topics.

New sessions, as part of RAPID + TCT’s technical conference, include automation assembly and robotics; sustainment solutions for military equipment; design for manufacturing in an age of artificial intelligence and Industry 4.0; cybersecurity for manufacturing operations; composite manufacturing and advanced materials; and digital engineering, modeling and simulation.

Also new for 2025, the Michigan Alliance of APEX Accelerators will sponsor and host the Knowledge Bar to support suppliers looking to do business with the federal government.

With direction from companies such as BAE Systems, Bell Textron, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, RTX, The Boeing Co. and more, AeroDef Manufacturing brings together government and industry leaders and is focused on a set of materials and manufacturing technologies, and provides insight into the latest advancements. 

Complemented by suppliers like the Array of Engineers, the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command community and the Air Force Research Lab, this year’s event will include discussions about funding opportunities, supply chain resiliency and optimizing manufacturing techniques and processes. AeroDef Manufacturing will convene all stakeholders including key leadership from the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force along with the companies supplying the next generation of A&D systems and equipment. 

For the first time, the event will be collocated with three other large industry events: SME and the Rapid New Group’s RAPID + TCT; SAE’s trademark mobility event―the World Congress Experience (WCX), which emphasizes innovation in advanced mobility; and America Makes’ Spring Technical Review and Exchange (TRX), a public-private partnership for additive manufacturing technology and education, according to SME.

“At SME, we’re committed to bringing together the industry at large to showcase advanced technologies and accelerate their widespread adoption, strengthening North America’s manufacturing capacity,” says Steve Prahalis, chief operating officer at SME. “Combining AeroDef Manufacturing’s audience with these other collocated events highlights the collective impact each discipline has on one another and our national security.”

“This year’s event reflects the full spectrum of innovation in aerospace and defense. As a one-of-a-kind gathering, we’ve worked closely with SME to ensure the experience boosts the U.S. manufacturing supply chain, fosters resilience and strengthens national defense,” says George “Nick” Bullen, FSME, Northrop Grumman Corp., longtime member of AeroDef’s Strategic Advisory Committee, a group of industry experts acting as consultants to SME on the content of the event.

Registration is now open to attend this event, which brings together stakeholders in aerospace and defense manufacturing.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.