Reflecting on an Inspiring Evening at the Annual CDS Lecture 2025

Last night, the Callen-Lenz team had the privilege of attending the Annual Chief of the Defence Staff Lecture, delivered by Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton KCB FREng and hosted by RUSI. 

The lecture provided invaluable insights into the strategic priorities shaping UK defence and the evolving role of air power in future operations. 

Key Takeaways for Callen-Lenz: 

• Readiness: Defence Industry and Society must be ready for conflict.
• Deterrence is critical: This needs a strong and resilient UK Defence Industry.
• People: Defence needs a whole of society approach.  We need skilled and knowledgeable school and university leavers to join the Defence Industry.
• Innovation is critical: The emphasis on agility and technological advancement reinforces our commitment to developing cutting-edge solutions for defence and aerospace. 
• Collaboration matters: Partnerships between industry and defence will be essential to meet future challenges, something we’re proud to champion. 
• Sustainability and resilience: Building systems that are robust yet adaptable aligns perfectly with our approach to engineering and operations. 

A huge thank you to RUSI for hosting such a thought-provoking event. We’re excited to take these insights forward as we continue to grow and innovate in 2026. 

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