Welcome to DVD 2026

This year’s exhibition comes at a pivotal moment, following Defence reform and the establishment of the National Armaments Directors (NAD) Group. It is therefore great to have DVD jointly organised by the Army and the NAD Group, strengthening our collective ability to connect, innovate and deliver capability at pace.

Events like DVD bring Defence and industry face-to-face, creating the space for open and frank discussions. These conversations help us share perspectives across the whole industrial landscape, from major primes to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and ensure we maintain a shared understanding of Defence’s needs and industry’s strengths.

This year we are particularly excited to introduce the new SME Zone. SMEs bring agility, innovation and rapid thinking; qualities that modern conflict has shown to be essential. As lessons from Ukraine highlight, success in 21st-century warfare depends on integrated, networked, lethal, attritable and consumable capabilities delivered at the pace of relevance. SMEs play a vital role in bridging traditional acquisition processes with the fast-moving innovation required for a modern battlespace. The SME Zone creates new opportunities for them to showcase what they can offer and help us understand how we can better support their involvement and ensure all our equipment capabilities are integrated effectively.

DVD 2026 is an important opportunity for all of us — Defence, industry, and the user community — to strengthen our connections, build shared understanding and continue improving the capability we deliver together. We look forward to the discussions, demonstrations and partnerships that will shape the future of land capability. 

Major General Lizzie Faithfull-Davies was commissioned into the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in 1999 and has since served as an engineering officer in armoured and armoured infantry units with operational deployments to Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan. 

She has commanded at every level from platoon to brigade, including time at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and was awarded a CBE for her leadership during the national Covid response. On the staff she has completed roles in corporate communications, resource planning and capability management, culminating in her appointment as Head Programmes in Army HQ before becoming Director Land Environment in National Armaments Materiel (NA-M), in March 2024. Outside work she is an avid outdoors enthusiast, ultra-runner and traveller, often accompanied by her black Labrador.