# Event Details - **Event Name**: Advancing Rapid Defense Innovation Symposium (ARDIS) - **Event Start and End Date**: Tue, 15 Sep, 2026 at 09:00 am – Wed, 16 Sep, 2026 at 05:00 pm - **Event Description**: Join us at ARDIS where we'll dive into cutting-edge technologies and strategies to advance rapid defense innovation!About this EventAdvancing Rapid Defense Innovation Symposium (ARDIS)The 2026 Advancing Rapid Defense Innovation Symposium (ARDIS) will expand to a two-day event designed to focus on innovation as an operational necessity. ARDIS 2026 will examine how the character of war is changing in real time, and what those changes mean for defense technology, acquisition, integration, testing, and production.The program is built around hard lessons now visible across current conflicts: low-cost mass can challenge exquisite systems, drone warfare has changed the economics of air defense, software and data fusion increasingly determine combat tempo, and resilient industrial capacity is now inseparable from battlefield advantage.Organized as a forum for government, industry, startups, academia, and operators, ARDIS 2026 will focus on the pathways required to turn battlefield problems into fielded capability.The symposium will emphasize layered counter-UAS defense, autonomous systems, AI-enabled decision support, electronic warfare, contested logistics, cyber resilience, and the industrial base reforms needed to produce relevant systems at combat pace. That framing is consistent with the Department’s strategy for countering unmanned systems, updated counter-drone guidance for U.S. installations, recent experimentation linking industry with warfighters, the Acquisition Transformation Strategy, and the 2026 National Defense Strategy’s call to rebuild the defense industrial base at speed and scale.Rather than simply spotlighting emerging technologies, ARDIS 2026 will ask a more urgent set of questions: Which capabilities are proving survivable in contested environments? Which systems can be scaled affordably? What kind of software, architecture, supply chain, and contracting model is required to win adaptation cycles faster than adversaries? Over two days, the event will connect operational lessons to practical defense innovation pathways relevant to warfare centers, defense primes, nontraditional firms, venture-backed startups, and the broader national security industrial base.The symposium is proudly produced in participation with Naval Air Weapons Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD) and US Navy Tech Grid, and presented by Saalex Corporation. - **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/ridgecrest/advancing-rapid-defense-innovation-symposium-ardis/100001984938811418 - **Event Categories**: business, contests - **Interested Audience**: - total_interested_count: 1 - **Event Highlights**: - Duration: 8 hours - Location: Kerr McGee Center - Languages: English ## Ticket Details - **Ticket Price Range**: min: 0, max: 423.34, currency: USD ## Event venue details - **city**: Ridgecrest - **state**: CA - **country**: United States - **location**: Kerr McGee Center - **lat**: 35.6200586 - **long**: -117.67231470000002 - **full address**: Kerr McGee Center, 100 West California Avenue, Ridgecrest, United States ## Event gallery - **Alt text**: Advancing Rapid Defense Innovation Symposium (ARDIS) - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events6/banners/2014a4648c37e45cdfb6d1bb3933730d0f1f5b6d726a41af5568f728eeabbbfc-rimg-w1200-h477-dc2e282f-gmir.jpg?v=1773372098 ## FAQs - **Q**: When and where is Advancing Rapid Defense Innovation Symposium (ARDIS) being held? - **A:** Advancing Rapid Defense Innovation Symposium (ARDIS) takes place on Tue, 15 Sep, 2026 at 09:00 am to Wed, 16 Sep, 2026 at 05:00 pm at Kerr McGee Center, 100 West California Avenue, Ridgecrest, United States. - **Q**: Who is organizing Advancing Rapid Defense Innovation Symposium (ARDIS)? - **A:** Advancing Rapid Defense Innovation Symposium (ARDIS) is organized by Ridgecrest Convention and Visitor's Bureau. - **Q**: Who is this event for? Is it right for me? - **A:** Advancing Rapid Defense Innovation Symposium (ARDIS) is ideal for professionals, entrepreneurs, startup founders, and networking enthusiasts eager to grow their connections. Whether you're a first-time attendee or a longtime enthusiast in Ridgecrest, this event is thoughtfully curated to deliver a standout experience worth every moment. If Advancing Rapid Defense Innovation Symposium (ARDIS) sounds like your kind of event, don't wait - spots fill up fast. ## Structured Data (JSON-LD) ```json [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Event", "name": "Advancing Rapid Defense Innovation Symposium (ARDIS)", "image": "https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events6/banners/2014a4648c37e45cdfb6d1bb3933730d0f1f5b6d726a41af5568f728eeabbbfc-rimg-w1200-h477-dc2e282f-gmir.jpg?v=1773372098", "startDate": "2026-09-15", "endDate": "2026-09-16", "url": "https://allevents.in/ridgecrest/advancing-rapid-defense-innovation-symposium-ardis/100001984938811418", "location": { "@type": "Place", "name": "Kerr McGee Center", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "streetAddress": "100 West California Avenue", "postalCode": "93555", "addressLocality": "Ridgecrest", "addressRegion": "CA", "addressCountry": "US" }, "geo": { "@type": "GeoCoordinates", "latitude": "35.6200586", "longitude": "-117.67231470000002" } }, "eventAttendanceMode": "https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceMode", "description": "Join us at ARDIS where we'll dive into cutting-edge technologies and strategies to advance rapid defense innovation!", "offers": [ { "@type": "AggregateOffer", "availability": "https://schema.org/InStock", "priceCurrency": "USD", "availabilityStarts": "2026-10-12", "availabilityEnds": "2026-09-16", "validFrom": "2026-10-12", "lowPrice": "0.00", "highPrice": "423.34", "price": "0.00", "url": "https://allevents.in/ridgecrest/advancing-rapid-defense-innovation-symposium-ardis/100001984938811418" }, { "@type": "Offer", "availability": "https://schema.org/InStock", "priceCurrency": "USD", "availabilityStarts": "2026-10-12", "availabilityEnds": "", "validFrom": "2026-10-12", "url": "https://allevents.in/ridgecrest/advancing-rapid-defense-innovation-symposium-ardis/100001984938811418", "price": "423.34", "name": "Standard Admission" }, { "@type": "Offer", "availability": "https://schema.org/InStock", "priceCurrency": "USD", "availabilityStarts": "2026-10-12", "availabilityEnds": "", "validFrom": "2026-10-12", "url": "https://allevents.in/ridgecrest/advancing-rapid-defense-innovation-symposium-ardis/100001984938811418", "price": 0, "name": "Government Attendee" } ], "organizer": [ { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Ridgecrest Convention and Visitors Bureau", "url": "https://allevents.in/org/ridgecrest-convention-and-visitors-bureau/26633788", "description": "The Ridgecrest Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (RACVB) is the official destination marketing organization for Ridgecrest, California, and the surrounding Indian Wells Valley. Established to strengthen regional tourism, the RACVB serves as a catalyst for economic growth, community vitality, and cultural preservation by promoting Ridgecrest as a gateway to world-class outdoor adventures, military partnerships, and authentic cultural experiences.Mission & PurposeRACVB’s mission is to position Ridgecrest as a premier destination for visitors, athletes, cultural enthusiasts, filmmakers, and defense industry professionals. Through strategic partnerships with local stakeholders, state agencies, and national organizations, the Bureau leverages Ridgecrest’s unique geography, heritage, and resources to drive tourism and create long-term benefits for the community.Key Areas of ImpactTourism Development: Showcasing Ridgecrest as the hub for outdoor exploration, including Death Valley National Park, the Trona Pinnacles, Red Rock Canyon, and the Eastern Sierra region.Sports Tourism: Through the Ridgecrest Regional Sports Commission, RACVB attracts regional, state, and national competitions that boost local tourism and showcase Ridgecrest as a sporting destination.Cultural Promotion: RACVB champions Native American heritage and community events, such as the transformation of the Ridgecrest Petroglyph Festival into the Regional Hoop Dance Championship West Coast.Defense & Industry Collaboration: Hosting the annual California Contracting, Acquisition, and Procurement (CCAP) Industry Days Expo and the Advancing Rapid Defense Innovation Symposium (ARDIS), RACVB fosters connections between the U.S. Navy, defense contractors, startups, and academia.Film & Media: As a proud member of Film Liaisons in California Statewide (FLICS), RACVB promotes Ridgecrest and the Indian Wells Valley as prime filming locations for Hollywood productions, commercials, and streaming content.Strategic PartnershipsRACVB actively collaborates with Visit California, the U.S. Navy at NAWCWD China Lake, local businesses, and regional tourism organizations to amplify Ridgecrest’s visibility across California and beyond. These partnerships ensure Ridgecrest remains a competitive and attractive destination for both leisure travelers and professional industries.Commitment to CommunityBeyond tourism promotion, the RACVB is committed to enhancing Ridgecrest’s quality of life. By driving visitor spending, supporting local businesses, and hosting events that highlight cultural heritage and national pride, RACVB ensures that tourism directly contributes to the city’s economic stability and cultural vitality." } ] } ] ```