Defense

Digital transformation for the defense sector and internal security

The focus on sovereignty and resilience currently unites all efforts in Europe and Germany. This focus is closely linked to the defense sector, which encompasses both the military and civil protection. Digital transformation is a key lever for capability development, flexibility, and speed.

The transferability of the technologies and processes that digital transformation brings with it creates advantages in military and civil defense that can be roughly divided into three areas of action.

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Interoperability for flexibility and cooperation

Seamless data flows across system boundaries and the modular combinability of individual components are the key concepts of interoperability. These ensure the integration of existing systems, uniform processes, and standardized communication. It is important to note that modular networking across system boundaries not only affects internal structures but also alliances across armed forces and national borders.

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IT governance, standards, and software architecture as a framework

Interoperability offers great potential, but requires well-thought-out IT governance and software architecture. Both need to be dynamically adapted and are important control elements for implementing a digital transformation process. Only with the sensible specification of standardized data formats, metadata processing, and defined interfaces (APIs) can efficient communication across system boundaries take place. Both technically and legally, architecture, selected standards, and governance must be linked. A digital ecosystem can be created through sensible governance and software architecture, which can simplify the entry of new market participants and stimulate the innovation process.

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Technology as the key to crisis management

A framework and interoperability alone are not enough to remain capable of acting in a crisis. It is crucial to identify new technological developments at an early stage and actively deploy them. These include unmanned systems such as drones, ships, land vehicles, and submarines, as well as data platforms, cloud edge computing, middleware, API ecosystems, quantum computing, secure communications, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and trusted hardware and software. To ensure that such trends do not remain theoretical, suitable experimental spaces and targeted technology scouting are required. Innovations can thus be evaluated and transformed into scalable capabilities through rapid prototyping – according to the principle of the OODA loop, which ensures rapid adaptation and thus sustainable action.

Our expertise in defense

As a leading research institute for software-intensive systems, Fraunhofer IESE has extensive experience in the aforementioned fields of activity.

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German Armed Forces and Defense Industry

Software-Defined Defense as the Order of the Day

Fraunhofer IESE has many years of experience in the development of software-intensive systems through numerous projects with the German Federal Ministry of Defense, the German Armed Forces, and the defense industry. Building on this knowledge, the institute is researching the Software-Defined X (SDX) paradigm.

At its core, SDX describes the separation of software and hardware to make systems modular, flexible, and more quickly adaptable. For defense, this means that capabilities can be further developed independently of rigid hardware infrastructure, which significantly strengthens technological sovereignty and operational readiness.

The benefits are particularly evident in unmanned systems that operate in networks or autonomously. Here, the software architecture determines performance and reliability. Through targeted technology transfer and adaptation to the defense sector, Fraunhofer IESE ensures that SDX concepts are translated into robust and deployable systems.

 

Discover more on this topic:

Seminar “Architecture Modeling with NAF4.0 and ADMBw”

 

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Civil defense and hybrid threats

Disaster control & civil protection

Today, defense encompasses much more than just the military sphere. Authorities and organizations with security responsibilities, as well as operators of critical infrastructure such as public utilities, municipalities, and cities, also play a crucial role in the digital transformation of security.

Monitoring and cybersecurity are particularly important in this context. Urban data platforms create a precise picture of the municipal environment. This allows disasters to be identified at an early stage and managed in an orderly manner in the event of an emergency. At the same time, cybersecurity protects systems from hacker attacks and increases their resilience. This is crucial when it comes to securing energy supplies, communication networks, or other vital services.

Added to this is the growing danger of hybrid threats. Misinformation on social networks or targeted attacks on democracy can cause considerable damage. Socio-technological solutions are indispensable for effectively countering this.

 

Discover more on this topic:

Webinar: »Urbane Datenplattformen (UDP) und Digitale Zwillinge (UDZ)«

Blog: Artificial Intelligence for Control Centers and Situation Rooms – the Project SPELL

 

Dual use as an opportunity for new applications

Using civilian technologies specifically for security

The current start-up scene in the defense sector shows how innovative technologies are becoming increasingly important. However, it is often not immediately apparent that many of these solutions have already been developed and tested in civilian environments. This is precisely where there is great potential: companies should review their product ranges to see whether applications can also be used for dual purposes.

Autonomous machines from agriculture, for example, can also be used in the military or in disaster control. Software solutions, such as those for logistics or healthcare, can also be transferred to security-related scenarios. Such possibilities have typically been underestimated in the past, resulting in missed opportunities that should be exploited more consistently in the future.

 

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