The Summit will be headlined Wednesday by President Donald Trump in Carlisle.
CARLISLE, Pa. — Pennsylvania’s role in supporting the nation’s defense industry took center stage Tuesday as companies from across the Commonwealth gathered at the U.S. Army War College for the start of the Pennsylvania Defense and Innovation Summit.
Hosted by U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick, the two-day event features 130 companies demonstrating products and technologies designed to strengthen America’s national security.
The summit also brings together military leaders, defense contractors and government officials to discuss the future of defense innovation.
Among the exhibitors is Montgomery County-based Asylon Robotics, whose autonomous “DroneDog” robots are designed to patrol facilities and assist security teams.
“DroneDog’s able to autonomously walk around facilities, look for any sort of intrusions, alerts, alarms and then [is] able to alert the security teams as to what’s going on,” said Damon Henry, founder and CEO of Asylon Robotics.
Henry said Pennsylvania’s manufacturing base makes it uniquely positioned to support the defense industry.
“Everything from leading-edge, cutting-edge technology up to just part suppliers, fastener makers, anything you got, you can build it right here in Pennsylvania,” he said.
Other Pennsylvania companies are also showcasing their innovations. Montgomery County-based Clear Align has deployed more than 500 artificial intelligence-powered cameras along the southern border, while York County-based BAE Systems manufactures tanks used by the U.S. Army.
“They identify risks and threats sooner than a human and send immediate signals to the people who are in the area,” said Angelique Irvin, founder and CEO of Clear Align, describing the company’s AI-enabled surveillance camera.
Irvin said Pennsylvania has the workforce and expertise needed to develop advanced defense technologies.
“You need software, you need optics, you need mechanics, you need electronics and you need expertise in systems and how to put that all together. Plus, we’ve got the solar panels that run this, the comms and the TAC, all of that we have here in Pennsylvania,” she said.
Pennsylvania has received more than $34 billion in federal defense contracts since last year and is home to approximately 190,000 defense workers.
The summit is intended to create new partnerships between industry and military leaders as defense technology continues to evolve.
“There’s no single place more fitting in America to bring this team together than Pennsylvania,” McCormick said. “Pennsylvania has the factories, the innovators, the energy, the workforce that America needs.”
Among the guests who addressed the industry leaders included Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine.
The Pennsylvania Defense and Innovation Summit continues Wednesday, when President Donald Trump is scheduled to deliver the headlining address.