AOC Europe 2026 Heading to Helsinki, Finland
Premier Electronic Warfare Symposium to Address Spectrum Superiority Amid Shifting European Security Landscape
HELSINKI, Finland – Leading defence experts, military personnel, government officials, and industry leaders from across Europe and beyond will gather in Helsinki, Finland, for AOC Europe 2026, a three-day international symposium hosted by the Association of Old Crows (AOC). Taking place May 19-21 under the theme Re-Arming Europe for Electromagnetic Spectrum Superiority, the event will bring the community together to confront the most pressing challenges in electromagnetic spectrum operations (EMO) and electronic warfare (EW).
AOC Europe 2026 arrives at a pivotal moment. New electromagnetic tactics emerging from the Russo-Ukrainian War and hybrid operations targeting European nations have made spectrum superiority a defining challenge for the continent’s security. The symposium will address how allied and NATO forces can evolve their doctrine and capabilities to meet this moment – from countering unmanned platforms to building resilience against PNT/GNSS denial.
Over two full days of programming, attendees will engage with a world-class lineup of speakers drawn from NATO commands, national ministries of defence, academic institutions, and industry. Sessions will tackle electromagnetic operations in the Nordic region, space domain operations, EW lessons from Ukraine, PNT and GNSS denial and resilience, AI and cognitive EW, autonomous platforms, and NATO training challenges. Highlights include keynote addresses from Finnish Defence Forces leadership and a representative of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, alongside panels featuring experts from Germany, the United States, Norway, the Netherlands, the UK, and beyond.
“Europe is at an inflection point in electromagnetic spectrum operations, and the questions on the table at AOC Europe 2026 could not be more consequential,” said AOC President Anthony “Tony” Lisuzzo. “From lessons learned in Ukraine to the rapid evolution of unmanned systems and cognitive EW, this symposium brings together the people and the expertise needed to chart a credible path forward for European and NATO forces.”
Complementing the symposium programme, a dynamic expo hall will connect more than military, government, and industry professionals with leading defence companies showcasing the latest EW technologies, systems, and solutions, including live demonstrations and direct access to decision-makers. Sponsors include PLATH, Aaronia, Reaktor, Textron Systems, and L3Harris. On the evening of May 20, attendees are invited to An Evening in Helsinki, an off-site reception at Helsinki City Hall, offering a unique opportunity for networking in one of the city’s most iconic settings.
Registration is open at aoceurope.org. AOC Europe 2027 is already confirmed for May 4-6 in Lisbon, Portugal.
About the Association of Old Crows
With around 12,000 members internationally, the Association of Old Crows (AOC) is a professional non-profit association that educates, connects, and advocates on behalf of its members and stakeholders across the global electromagnetic warfare (EW) and spectrum operations community.
