AOC Europe is the flagship annual European conference and exhibition of the Association of Old Crows (AOC), the world's leading professional organisation for electronic warfare (EW) and electromagnetic spectrum management. Held in a different European city each year, the 2027 edition runs from 4 to 6 May in Lisbon, Portugal. The three-day programme combines high-level policy and technical conference sessions with a dedicated expo hall, attracting EW operators, programme managers, acquisition officials, systems manufacturers, and academic researchers from across NATO and partner nations.
AOC Europe is an annual symposium and exhibition organised by the Association of Old Crows (AOC), the US-headquartered but internationally active professional association for electronic warfare (EW) and electromagnetic spectrum management. The event rotates among European cities, providing NATO and partner-nation EW communities with a conference that bridges government, defence industry, academia, and operational military. The 2026 edition was held in Helsinki, Finland (19–21 May 2026) and was the most recent completed edition. The 2027 edition is scheduled for 4–6 May 2027 in Lisbon, Portugal. The AOC also hosts a flagship annual symposium in the United States.
The Association of Old Crows was founded in 1964 in the United States by electronic warfare practitioners who had served in World War II – the name is a reference to the wartime term for electronic countermeasures officers. The AOC has grown into a global membership organisation covering EW, Electromagnetic Spectrum Management Operations (EMSO), Cyber Electromagnetic Activities (CEMA), signals intelligence (SIGINT), and information operations (IO). AOC Europe began as the AOC's European chapter event, typically formatted as a two-to-three-day symposium with an accompanying exhibition floor and has been running for more than 25 years. Past host cities have included Warsaw, Amsterdam, and Helsinki. The 2027 Lisbon edition follows directly from Helsinki 2026.
The 2027 edition is scheduled for 4–6 May 2027 in Lisbon, Portugal. The specific conference theme had not been announced at the time of writing (10 June 2026) – the 2027 website (2027.aoceurope.org) confirms the dates and city but lists the theme as "coming soon." Based on the 2026 theme ("Re-Arming Europe for Electromagnetic Spectrum Superiority"), the 2027 programme is expected to continue addressing European EMS posture in the context of the Russo-Ukrainian war, hybrid threats, NATO spectrum management, GNSS/PNT denial, and the integration of unmanned platforms in EW operations. Exhibition stands for 2027 are already being solicited; interested exhibitors should contact Kenneth Andres at exhibits@crows.org.
The 2026 edition (Helsinki, 19–21 May) was themed "Re-Arming Europe for Electromagnetic Spectrum Superiority" and focused on Nordic and European EMS concepts, doctrinal evolution, and capability implementation against the backdrop of Russian hybrid actions and the Ukrainian conflict. The expo hall was close to sold out. Sponsors included PLATH (diamond sponsor), Aaronia, Reaktor Solutions, Textron, and L3. Media partners included the Journal of Electronic Defense (JED), Armada International, and Microwave Journal. The AOC confirmed 40+ countries were represented.
AOC Europe typically takes place in May, before the main summer pause and the autumn exhibition rush (Eurosatory, DSEI, AAD). Its spring slot gives European defence ministries, procurement programmes, and industry a focused EW-specific moment before summer budget cycles close. It sits alongside the annual AOC International Symposium (held annually in Washington, DC area) and complements regional AOC chapter events. Among EW-specific events, it has no direct European competitor in scale or prestige – its nearest analogues are specialist tracks at larger shows such as DSEI or EUROSATORY.
AOC Europe draws a highly specialised audience: acquisition officials from European ministries of defence, MOD staff, military EW and SIGINT programme managers, operational command staff EW officers, national and military intelligence organisations, test range personnel, EW training and educational personnel, EW laboratory officials, EW and SIGINT systems manufacturers, EW operators, and EW support, maintenance, and logistics managers. The event deliberately bridges the government-military-industry-academia divide, with speakers including serving military officers, civil servants, industry CTOs, and academic researchers. NATO-member nations dominate attendance, with partner and observer nations also represented.
The three-day programme includes: (1) Pre-convention training courses (optional, day before main event) providing hands-on technical instruction in EW disciplines. (2) Plenary keynote sessions addressing strategic-level EMS and defence policy themes. (3) Technical and operational conference panels covering specific EW capability areas and operational lessons. (4) A dedicated expo hall where industry exhibitors demonstrate EW systems, SIGINT equipment, CEMA platforms, and related technologies. (5) Structured networking sessions. In 2026, a PLATH Intelligence Day was hosted as a dedicated sub-event within the programme. A Show Daily and podcast were produced during the event.
Core thematic areas:
| Edition (2026) | Helsinki, 19–21 May 2026 |
| Countries represented | 40+ |
| Expo hall status | Near sold out |
| Pre-convention courses | Yes |
| PLATH Intelligence Day | Yes (2026) |
| Next edition | Lisbon, 4–6 May 2027 |
The Association of Old Crows (AOC) is a US-headquartered international professional membership organisation founded in 1964. It serves individuals and organisations with interests in electronic warfare, electromagnetic spectrum management, CEMA, SIGINT, and related fields. It publishes the Journal of Electronic Defense (JED), organises the annual International Symposium in the USA, and manages regional events including AOC Europe. Website: crows.org
AOC Europe is open to both military and civilian professionals. The audience spans serving military EW officers, government acquisition officials, industry engineers and programme managers, academic researchers, and commercial technology providers. There is no military-only restriction, though some sessions may have specific access controls.
The 2027 theme had not been announced at the time of writing. The Lisbon venue has not been specified. The core format (3-day symposium + expo hall) is expected to remain. Portugal is a NATO member and has growing EW industry relevance. The conference contact for 2027 exhibitor enquiries is Kenneth Andres (exhibits@crows.org).
Some presentations and show daily content are made available to AOC members through the AOC website (crows.org) and vimeo channel. Full proceedings access typically requires AOC membership. A podcast and show daily are produced during the event.
The specific venue for AOC Europe 2027 in Lisbon had not been announced at the time of writing (10 June 2026). Lisbon is Portugal's capital, a NATO-member nation with a mid-sized defence industry and an active cybersecurity and space sector. The city hosts several large conference facilities capable of the AOC Europe format, including the Centro de Congressos de Lisboa and hotel-based conference centres. Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) is approximately 7 km from the city centre. The city is well connected by direct flights from major European, North American, and Middle Eastern hubs.
The AOC (Association of Old Crows) is the global professional home for the EW and electromagnetic spectrum community. Founded in 1964, it operates from headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, USA and manages an international network of chapters and events. For AOC Europe, the AOC's International Programmes team manages the conference programme, speaker recruitment, exhibitor sales, and delegate registration. The European community is also served by the UK AOC chapter (ukaoc.org) and various national-level AOC affiliates. Social media: LinkedIn (linkedin.com/company/2483509/), Facebook (facebook.com/aocrows/), X (@AOCrows).
AOC Europe is the only annual European-facing event where active EW operators, programme managers, and policy makers discuss electromagnetic spectrum dominance outside classified channels, making it indispensable for anyone in the EW or SIGINT supply chain.
For the 2027 edition, registration details had not been published at the time of writing (10 June 2026). The 2027 website (2027.aoceurope.org) is live. Interested exhibitors should contact Kenneth Andres at exhibits@crows.org. Delegate registration for past editions was available through the official AOC Europe website; pricing was tiered by AOC membership status. AOC members typically receive discounted delegate rates. For updates, subscribe to AOC communications at crows.org.
AOC membership is not required to attend AOC Europe as a delegate or exhibitor. However, AOC members typically receive reduced registration rates. Membership is available at crows.org.
AOC Europe is an unclassified event held in commercial venues. Some sessions may be designated for cleared-personnel only or handled through separate briefings. The event does not require attendees to hold security clearances. Classified discussions are not held in the main conference programme.
English is the working language of AOC Europe. All plenary and technical sessions, the expo hall, and official communications are conducted in English.
| Official website | https://aoceurope.org/ |
| 2027 edition site | https://2027.aoceurope.org/ |
| https://www.linkedin.com/company/2483509/ | |
| X | https://twitter.com/AOCrows |
| Register | https://2027.aoceurope.org/ |
| Programme | not disclosed (2027 theme TBA) |