Viking Arms Defence to Attend Close Combat 2026
June 23, 2026
Viking Arms Defence is proud to confirm its attendance at Close Combat 2026, taking place from 30 June to 2 July 2026 at Cranfield University at Shrivenham, including activity at the Cranfield Ordnance Test and Evaluation Centre (COTEC) on Salisbury Plain.
Close Combat is one of the UK’s key forums for those focused on the future of close combat, dismounted technologies, small arms, optics, soldier systems and battlefield integration. The symposium brings together the military, academia and industry to discuss current and future developments in close combat capability, procedures and equipment pipelines.
For Viking Arms Defence, the event provides an important opportunity to engage directly with end-users, procurement teams, partners and industry colleagues on the capabilities that will shape the future effectiveness of the dismounted soldier.
Supporting the Future of Dismounted Close Combat
The 2026 theme asks a vital question: has technology altered the nature of conflict to the point that success in dismounted close combat is now driven as much by information dominance as by traditional close-range firepower?
Modern close combat is increasingly defined by the ability to sense, decide, move and strike within a contested digital environment. The battlefield is more transparent, more connected and more demanding than ever before. For dismounted soldiers, survivability and lethality are now influenced by a complex mix of weapons, protection, sensors, power, networks, software, training and signature management.
This is where Viking Arms Defence’s role is especially relevant.
As a specialist defence supplier, Viking Arms Defence works closely with military, police and government customers to provide proven equipment, expert product knowledge and practical support. The team’s focus is not simply on supplying equipment, but on helping users understand how capability performs in operationally relevant contexts.
Why Close Combat 2026 Matters
Close Combat 2026 will examine some of the most pressing questions facing the future force, including:
- What capabilities most directly improve survivability and lethality for the dismounted soldier?
- How should soldiers operate on an increasingly transparent battlefield?
- Is the dismounted soldier now also a mobile sensor, decision-maker and targeting node?
- What limits dismounted effectiveness: physical load, cognitive burden, power, bandwidth, training or trust in systems?
- What skills and behaviours must soldiers master to fight effectively in an information-dominated close battle?
These questions are central to the development of modern soldier systems and close combat capability. They also reflect the need for industry to remain closely aligned with the realities of the end-user.
Live-Fire and Practical Capability Demonstration at COTEC
A major part of the symposium will take place at COTEC, Cranfield’s test and evaluation facility on Salisbury Plain. The range day gives delegates the opportunity to see live-firing demonstrations, engage with small arms and associated technologies, and explore autonomous and remote systems in a practical environment.
For Viking Arms Defence, this hands-on element is particularly important. Demonstrations and direct engagement allow military and security professionals to assess capability in a more realistic setting, while giving industry valuable feedback from those who understand operational need.
Close combat capability cannot be assessed through specification sheets alone. It must be handled, tested, questioned and understood in context.
Bridging Industry, End-Users and Operational Need
Viking Arms Defence has long supported the UK defence and security community through specialist product knowledge, trusted supplier relationships and direct engagement with operational users.
Events such as Close Combat 2026 are essential because they bring the right people into the same conversation: those defining future requirements, those developing and supplying capability, and those who will ultimately rely on equipment in the field.
As the demands placed on the dismounted soldier continue to evolve, industry must be agile, informed and responsive. Capability must support the realities of modern close combat, where lethality, survivability, information dominance and integration are increasingly interconnected.
Meet Viking Arms Defence at Close Combat 2026
The Viking Arms Defence team will be attending Close Combat 2026 across the three-day symposium and welcomes the opportunity to speak with military, police, government and industry delegates.
Whether the discussion is focused on small arms, optics, soldier systems, counter-UAS, signature management, training support or future equipment pipelines, Viking Arms Defence will be on hand to discuss practical solutions and operational requirements.
Event: Close Combat 2026
Date: 30 June – 2 July 2026
Time: 0900hrs – 1600hrs
Location: Cranfield University at Shrivenham and COTEC, Salisbury Plain
Audience: Military, academia, government, law enforcement, defence industry and close combat specialists
To speak to the Viking Arms Defence team about close combat capability, dismounted soldier systems or future defence requirements, get in touch ahead of the event or meet the team at Close Combat 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Close Combat 2026?
Close Combat 2026 is a defence symposium hosted at Cranfield University at Shrivenham. It brings together the military, academia and industry to discuss current and future developments in close combat, dismounted technologies, procedures and equipment pipelines.
When and where is Close Combat 2026 taking place?
Close Combat 2026 takes place from 30 June to 2 July 2026 at Cranfield University at Shrivenham. Day 2 includes activity at COTEC, Cranfield’s range facility on Salisbury Plain.
Why is Viking Arms Defence attending Close Combat 2026?
Viking Arms Defence is attending to engage with military, police, government and industry delegates on the future of close combat capability, including small arms, optics, soldier systems, counter-UAS, survivability and battlefield integration.
What is the theme of Close Combat 2026?
The 2026 theme focuses on whether technology has changed the nature of conflict, with particular emphasis on information dominance, transparent battlefields, distributed sensing, signature management and multi-domain kill webs.
How does Close Combat 2026 support the future dismounted soldier?
The event explores the capabilities, skills and technologies needed to improve dismounted soldier effectiveness, including weapons, protection, sensors, networks, power, software, training and trust in systems.
