The IEEE RAPID 2026 (Research and Applications of Photonics in Defense) will take place from August 5 to 7, 2026, in Miramar Beach, Florida, USA. Organized by the IEEE Photonics Society, the conference serves as an international platform bringing together researchers, government agencies, defense organizations, industry professionals, and academic experts working in photonics and defense technologies. The event focuses on advancing collaborative research and innovation to address emerging security and defense challenges through photonics-enabled solutions.

Attendees will have the opportunity to explore the latest developments in optics and photonics, electromagnetics, device physics, sensing technologies, algorithms, testing and evaluation, and advanced defense applications through technical presentations, discussions, and networking sessions. The conference aims to encourage multidisciplinary collaboration and foster next-generation research in defense and security technologies.