Best of LinkedIn: Defense Tech CW 36/ 37

00:00:00: Provided by Thomas Allgaier and Frennis, based on the most relevant posts on LinkedIn about defense tech in CW- Three, six, three, seven.

00:00:08: Frennis is a B to B market research company that equips product and strategy teams with market and competitive intelligence across the defense industry.

00:00:17: Welcome back to the deep dive.

00:00:18: Wow.

00:00:19: There's been so much activity in defense tech these past few weeks really looking forward to unpacking it all today.

00:00:25: Me too.

00:00:25: It's definitely a fast-moving space right now.

00:00:27: So the big question we're tackling today is how is this geopolitical urgency forcing defense tech to innovate at just breakneck speed?

00:00:35: and you know, how's that reshaping global security?

00:00:37: plus what surprising partnerships are cropping up.

00:00:40: Exactly.

00:00:41: We've looked at the LinkedIn posts from calendar weeks thirty six and thirty seven and yeah, the landscape is buzzing new product miles.

00:00:47: big international procurement deals, some really fascinating collaborations.

00:00:51: And what really strikes me about these posts is they aren't just showing small incremental updates.

00:00:56: No, they genuinely reflect a, well, a rapid evolution.

00:01:01: In the tech itself, in strategic thinking, and you really see this blend of innovation, partnerships, and frankly, that geopolitical urgency shaping the whole sector.

00:01:10: It

00:01:10: feels like a real acceleration, doesn't it?

00:01:12: Moving from just ideas to stuff actually being implemented.

00:01:16: Definitely.

00:01:17: Okay, so let's dig into that with our first theme.

00:01:19: New products and capabilities, the tech on the front lines.

00:01:23: What really jumps out, like you said, is this shift from concepts to actual field-ready systems.

00:01:28: It's hardware, it's software, it's hitting the ground.

00:01:31: What were some examples that really stood out to you?

00:01:33: Things that signal this new era of rapid deployment?

00:01:37: Well, connecting to that bigger picture, you absolutely cannot ignore the dominance of unmanned systems.

00:01:44: Advanced solutions.

00:01:46: Take Australia's Ghost Shark XL AUV.

00:01:48: Right.

00:01:48: And Dural's project.

00:01:49: Exactly.

00:01:50: Yeah.

00:01:50: Christian Brose highlighted how.

00:01:52: And Dural, working with the Australian Navy, developed and got three operational prototypes out in just three years.

00:01:57: Three

00:01:57: years.

00:01:58: Wow.

00:01:59: And I had a schedule, which is, you know, pretty rockable.

00:02:02: Shane Arnett noted, these are stealthy, uncrewed vessels for things like ISR intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and long range strike.

00:02:10: And it led to a massive, uh, one point seven billion dollar contract.

00:02:14: That speed is just, it blows traditional timelines out of

00:02:17: the water.

00:02:18: It really does.

00:02:18: It kind of forces everyone to rethink how development happens, doesn't it?

00:02:22: Shows that agile methods can work even for complex military gear.

00:02:26: Three years for an autonomous undersea vehicle that's lightning fast, especially when you usually hear about decades long procurement cycles, really highlights that urgency we mentioned.

00:02:36: Absolutely.

00:02:36: Okay, shifting slightly, Matt Beb shared something about an innovation hitting soldiers directly.

00:02:41: Tell us about the Enduro and Meta partnership on SBMC.

00:02:45: What used to be IVS next?

00:02:47: What's the potential there on the ground?

00:02:48: Yeah,

00:02:48: this is fascinating.

00:02:49: It's basically bringing consumer grade extended reality XR right to the soldier.

00:02:54: So like augmented reality has says.

00:02:56: Kind of, yeah.

00:02:57: Think Meta's hardware but fused with Enduro's lattice software.

00:03:01: It gives soldiers much better situational awareness, real-time data overlays, that sort of thing.

00:03:06: And

00:03:06: the timeline.

00:03:06: Again, speed is key.

00:03:08: Rapid prototyping happened in months.

00:03:10: They're targeting scale deliveries by twenty twenty seven.

00:03:13: It really points to a future where this software first mixed reality isn't just experimental anymore.

00:03:19: It's standard kit.

00:03:20: A fundamental shift in how soldiers experience the battlefield.

00:03:23: Precisely.

00:03:24: That adaptability, that enhanced awareness, it's crucial.

00:03:28: And speaking of adaptability, David Roberts post on ARX Robotics Combat Gerion and its modularity caught my eye too.

00:03:34: What's the big deal about that modularity in practice?

00:03:37: Ah yes, the combat gerion is a great example.

00:03:40: It uses versatile TUR integrations from Valhalla turrets in front line, designed to be deployed forward protecting troops.

00:03:46: Okay.

00:03:46: But the really interesting part is that modularity, you can swap payloads super quickly, literally in seconds.

00:03:52: Need logistics, swap it in.

00:03:54: Need ISR, swap it in.

00:03:56: Counter drone, same thing.

00:03:57: So you can reconfigure on the fly.

00:03:59: Exactly.

00:03:59: That agility is becoming essential because the threats change so fast, it makes forces much more resilient, much more responsive.

00:04:07: speed and adaptability again.

00:04:09: Those seem to be the watch words.

00:04:11: Okay, moving from ground units to national defense, there was that major Danish air defense decision.

00:04:17: Eric Behringer announced Denmark picked the Italian, French, MBDA, SMET and G system.

00:04:24: That's

00:04:24: right, for long range air and missile defense.

00:04:27: What's the significance there?

00:04:28: Is it just about the tech or is there a bigger geopolitical message?

00:04:31: Oh, it's definitely more than just the tech.

00:04:32: It raises big questions about strategic shifts.

00:04:35: The SAMBTNG itself is, you know, state-of-the-art NATO interoperable designed for diverse threats.

00:04:40: Right.

00:04:41: But as Yen Christian Jensen pointed out, this is Denmark's biggest weapon system purchase ever.

00:04:45: It marks them reestablishing ground-based air defense.

00:04:48: Yes, but significantly, it's a pivot towards European industry.

00:04:51: Interesting.

00:04:52: So less reliance elsewhere.

00:04:53: That seems to be the message.

00:04:55: It's not just a purchase, it's a statement.

00:04:58: It underlines this growing European push for strategic autonomy, prioritizing regional partners, maybe diversifying away from traditional allies, seen as potentially less reliable down the line.

00:05:10: A very clear signal then, and in a totally different domain, space.

00:05:16: Keith King reported on the US Space Force using AI for satellite cybersecurity.

00:05:21: That sounds critical.

00:05:22: Absolutely critical.

00:05:23: They're developing an AI tool specifically to guard satellites against cyber attacks.

00:05:28: It analyzes the satellite's telemetry data in orbit to detect threats in real time.

00:05:32: So not just monitoring from the ground.

00:05:34: Exactly.

00:05:35: It's active defense in space.

00:05:37: Satellites are potential cyber battlegrounds now.

00:05:39: This shifts things from just detecting an attack after it happens to proactively defending that vital infrastructure.

00:05:46: It's like a cybersecurity space race, really.

00:05:48: A crucial defense layer, given how much we rely on space.

00:05:51: And sticking with defense layers, Casey Lam-Evans had an update on counter drone tech.

00:05:55: It seems like we're moving beyond basic jamming.

00:05:57: Oh,

00:05:57: definitely.

00:05:58: Yeah.

00:05:58: Drone shield has now fully integrated Centrix cyber take.

00:06:01: over capability.

00:06:03: Cyber takeover.

00:06:04: What does that actually mean?

00:06:05: It means they go beyond just blocking the signal.

00:06:07: They can actually get into the drone's protocol level, force a controlled landing, or even take command of it.

00:06:13: Wow.

00:06:14: Yeah.

00:06:14: And they get advanced forensics using what they call cyber RF data.

00:06:18: It's much smarter than just jamming.

00:06:20: It turns the drone from a threat into potentially an intelligent source, less disruptive, more sophisticated.

00:06:26: Okay.

00:06:26: That makes sense.

00:06:27: So from these cutting edge products, let's maybe pivot to our next theme.

00:06:32: Partnerships and collaborations building bridges for defense.

00:06:35: There's clearly a strong trend here towards expanding reach, improving interoperability.

00:06:40: What alliance has really stood out for you?

00:06:42: A really key one, highlighted by both Mark A. Whitefeld and Torsten Reel, was between Helsing and ARX Robotics.

00:06:49: AI

00:06:50: meets robotics.

00:06:51: Precisely.

00:06:52: They're teaming up to deliver AI-enabled solutions for European forces.

00:06:55: The goal is a software-defined, connected land domain.

00:06:58: faster, more precise action, better soldier safety.

00:07:02: And importantly, they're using combat-proven insights straight from Ukraine.

00:07:06: So real-world lessons feeding directly into development?

00:07:09: Exactly.

00:07:10: That kind of deep alignment, AI expertise, unmanned systems, real-world feedback, seems like the blueprint for European defense tech going forward.

00:07:21: That makes a lot of sense.

00:07:22: Then there was another partnership, maybe less flashy but still vital, that Luca Leone mentioned, Babcock and Skyroll.

00:07:28: Ah yes, the supply chain planning tool.

00:07:30: This is all about rethinking military logistics.

00:07:33: Which is hugely important, if less glamorous.

00:07:36: Absolutely vital.

00:07:37: They've launched this tool to stress test the British Army's sustainment plans.

00:07:41: They run scenarios, like what if Key Roots are denied?

00:07:45: It helps identify bottlenecks proactively before they cause failures in a real crisis.

00:07:49: That's smart.

00:07:50: Preventing problems rather than just reacting.

00:07:52: Exactly.

00:07:53: And Richard Gulliam shared some pretty positive partnership news too.

00:07:56: The UK basically mass producing Ukrainian designed drones.

00:08:00: Right.

00:08:00: Project Octopus.

00:08:01: Is that just about getting hardware or is it deeper?

00:08:03: It feels much deeper.

00:08:05: The UK plans to build thousands of these Ukrainian interceptor drones.

00:08:08: And it's backed by a two hundred million investment from Ukraine's biggest drone maker, setting up new facilities in the UK.

00:08:15: So jobs and industrial links too?

00:08:17: Definitely.

00:08:18: Create skilled jobs, embeds long-term industrial ties, opens up the supply chain for smaller companies, SMEs.

00:08:25: It's a real fusion of wartime innovation and economic strategy.

00:08:30: And tying this into the broader digital picture.

00:08:33: Mike Naylor announced that AWS and the UK Ministry of Defense are renewing their digital skills partnership.

00:08:39: Yeah, that's foundational, isn't it?

00:08:41: This renewed agreement is about boosting digital skills, supporting the Moide's digital transformation.

00:08:47: You need that cloud expertise underpinning everything else we're talking about.

00:08:50: Without those skills, none of these advanced systems work properly.

00:08:54: Exactly.

00:08:54: And looking way up, Michael Hadjithi-Odoge shared details about a really forward-looking space collaboration in Japan.

00:09:02: PerfectJSAT and NICT working on quantum key distribution, QKD.

00:09:07: Ah,

00:09:07: quantum.

00:09:07: This is seriously cutting edge stuff.

00:09:09: What's the

00:09:09: potential here for secure comms?

00:09:11: Why is it such a big deal for defense?

00:09:13: Well, this project is about demonstrating satellite-based QKD, using a small LEO satellite to share secure keys via quantum cryptography.

00:09:22: Basically, QKD uses quantum physics to create encryption keys that are theoretically unbreakable.

00:09:28: Unbreakable

00:09:28: how?

00:09:29: If someone tries to eavesdrop or intercept the key transmission, the quantum state changes and it immediately alerts both ends.

00:09:36: For defense, where secure communication is everything, this could make current cyber interception methods obsolete.

00:09:42: It's a true game changer for long-term security.

00:09:44: Wow.

00:09:45: Okay, definitely one to watch.

00:09:47: Let's shift now to geopolitics and procurement strategic shifts in European defense.

00:09:52: The posts here really showed some big moves in European thinking and spending.

00:09:56: What was the main takeaway for you beyond just the individual deals?

00:09:59: For me, it's this undeniable accelerating drive towards strategic autonomy and collective defense.

00:10:05: Minojin Rajin put it well, defense today is about collaboration, not isolation.

00:10:09: And the Denmark deal fits that.

00:10:10: Perfectly.

00:10:11: We mentioned Denmark choosing the Animpak NG.

00:10:14: Jens Christian Jensen really emphasized this wasn't just buying kit.

00:10:18: It was a strategic statement about investing in the European defense industry.

00:10:22: He explicitly mentioned the historical significance and the pivot away from potentially unreliable traditional partners.

00:10:29: So it's a geopolitical signal.

00:10:31: A very powerful one.

00:10:32: It shows this clear move towards a more self-reliant unified European defense posture.

00:10:38: That really connects with a proposal Jonas Singer put forward, doesn't it?

00:10:41: He argued for streamlining European defense procurement.

00:10:45: Yes,

00:10:45: consolidating platform families, encouraging national specialization, really boosting interoperability.

00:10:51: What

00:10:51: are the potential benefits he sees?

00:10:53: Things like cost reduction, better quality, stronger supply chains, and crucially making interoperability a physical reality, not just a buzzword.

00:11:01: It's a vision for a genuinely unified defense effort.

00:11:04: And the urgency for this kind of change, it seems very Real, Brandt Cowards talked about the Russian drone incursions over Poland.

00:11:11: Yeah, he sees those as deliberate tests, not accidents.

00:11:14: And he called for a layered resilient drone fence for Europe.

00:11:17: A drone fence.

00:11:18: Essentially a continent wide integrated counter drone system.

00:11:22: And Jan Carole Farfall reinforced this, arguing that Europe's fragmentation actually invites these kinds of provocations.

00:11:30: It underscores the absolute need for defense unity.

00:11:33: So the threat feels immediate, driving this push for unified action?

00:11:38: Absolutely.

00:11:39: It's not theoretical anymore.

00:11:40: It's tangible.

00:11:41: It's on their borders, and it's forcing a shift from talk to real investment.

00:11:46: Okay, building on that sense of urgency and change, let's move to the future of warfare.

00:11:51: drones, AI, and innovation philosophy.

00:11:53: This is where experts are really framing how things are changing.

00:11:56: What was a particularly interesting or maybe provocative take you saw?

00:12:00: Perry Boyle had a really compelling argument.

00:12:03: He said, essentially, drones are not products but a process.

00:12:06: Not products but a process.

00:12:08: What does he mean?

00:12:08: He means, unlike, say, a missile, drones are constantly adapting.

00:12:13: they become obsolete fast if they stay static.

00:12:15: Real innovation, he argues, comes from a system that integrates the warfighters using them, the factory workers building them, and the technologists designing them.

00:12:22: And he pointed to Ukraine.

00:12:24: Yes, as a prime example of this agile continuous adaptation cycle.

00:12:28: He also warned NATO not to isolate Ukraine financially or try to just, you know, co-opt their innovation.

00:12:35: It's about embracing that constant adaptation.

00:12:37: It's a

00:12:38: huge shift for traditional defense industries used to long product cycles.

00:12:42: Massive

00:12:42: implications.

00:12:43: And it connects really well to Matthew Sudhan Padmanaban's discussion linking Andrew's success to Peter Thiel's zero-to-one philosophy.

00:12:53: The idea of creating something entirely new, not just improving existing things.

00:12:57: Exactly.

00:12:58: Podmanaban urged Europe to stop making incremental improvements and start building entirely new defense categories.

00:13:04: Things like autonomous defense platforms, attributable drones, the lattice OS concept, create new markets.

00:13:10: Don't just compete, create.

00:13:12: Right.

00:13:12: He suggested Europe should lead on AI standards and foster startup style innovation cells to make it happen.

00:13:18: That's

00:13:18: a bold vision.

00:13:19: Stop chasing, start creating.

00:13:21: Now, on the drone market itself, our senator Toptov had what he called a hot take.

00:13:24: Huh, yes.

00:13:25: He basically said, we don't need any more drone companies.

00:13:27: Really?

00:13:28: Why?

00:13:29: He argues, the market for the basic drone platform is saturated, differentiation is low.

00:13:35: The real value, the next billion dollar companies, he thinks, will come from the drone ecosystem and the multi-domain stack.

00:13:41: So not the drone itself, but everything around it.

00:13:44: Exactly.

00:13:45: niche components, software that simplifies things, modular solutions that work across air, land, sea, cyber.

00:13:52: anti-drone tech, new regional primes coordinating it all.

00:13:56: It's a call for specialization and integration, not just more flying platforms.

00:14:00: Focus on the whole system, not just the vehicle.

00:14:02: That's interesting.

00:14:03: And speaking of what Europe needs, George O. Chathamarkak has brought up something unexpected for strategic autonomy.

00:14:08: Hydrogen and clean fuels.

00:14:10: Yeah, it sounds tangential at first, maybe.

00:14:12: But his argument is that resilience requires integrating clean fuels like hydrogen.

00:14:17: How does that link to defense?

00:14:18: He cited Ryan Middles, Sheena Britson, talking about the defense industry pushing for clean fuels precisely for independence.

00:14:25: It's about energy security.

00:14:27: If your military relies on fuel sources that are easily disrupted, your strategic autonomy is compromised.

00:14:32: Clean fuels offer a path to more resilience, more independence.

00:14:36: It aligns civil and military strategy.

00:14:38: Makes sense.

00:14:39: Okay, finally, let's touch on events and exhibitions.

00:14:42: How are all these trends showcased?

00:14:44: These events are crucial launch pads, aren't they?

00:14:46: Absolutely vital.

00:14:47: They're where you see the tech, meet the people, gauge the direction.

00:14:51: DSCI London was clearly a major hub.

00:14:53: What stood out there?

00:14:55: Benjamin Tallis described Helsing's big presence.

00:14:57: They showed their AI-enabled HX-II strike drones.

00:15:00: SG-One underwater gliders, even their Centaur AI fighter pilot doing simulated beyond visual range combat.

00:15:06: He called it a fundamental shift in European defense.

00:15:09: An AI pilot,

00:15:10: wow.

00:15:10: Yeah, and also a DSEI.

00:15:12: Jarco Sevinius reported the debut of the Fuchs JGM.

00:15:15: It's apparently the world's first vehicle with twenty four vertically launched JGM or Hellfire Longa missiles.

00:15:21: That's a huge leap in ground based firepower using missiles usually seen on aircraft.

00:15:25: Serious capabilities on display.

00:15:27: shows that convergence of AI and advanced weapons.

00:15:31: But it wasn't just DSCI, right?

00:15:33: Paul Matrock reported from MSPO in Poland about something incredible.

00:15:37: Yes, this story was amazing.

00:15:39: Irina Tarek, the CTO of a startup called Firepoint Company, presented their Flamingo FT-V Long Range Ballistic Missile.

00:15:47: Okay.

00:15:47: The truly astounding part.

00:15:49: This startup developed and deployed it in just nine months.

00:15:52: Nine

00:15:53: months.

00:15:54: for a ballistic missile.

00:15:55: Incredible,

00:15:55: isn't it?

00:15:56: It just shows the power of agile, maybe less bureaucratic development when there's real urgency, a challenge to the traditional ways.

00:16:03: That

00:16:03: pace is unbelievable.

00:16:04: And quickly, David Datzreider reported from Drone Days, twenty twenty five as well.

00:16:08: Right.

00:16:08: He noted Airbus DS airborne solutions showing their UAS services, featuring their male UAS and modular mission console, bringing advanced ISR to the field.

00:16:18: It's just underlines how these specialized events are so important for visibility, for collaboration, for seeing what's coming next.

00:16:24: It's where the future gets shown

00:16:25: off.

00:16:25: A lot happening and happening fast.

00:16:28: If you enjoyed this deep dive, new episodes drop every two minutes.

00:16:31: Also check out our other editions on ICT and tech insights, health tech, cloud, digital products and services, artificial intelligence and sustainability and green ICT.

00:16:41: Thank you so much for joining us for this deep dive into defense tech.

00:16:44: We really hope you feel more informed, maybe even a bit inspired by the sheer pace of evolution in this critical sector.

00:16:51: And thank you for exploring this incredibly dynamic field of defense technology with us today.

00:16:57: never dull.

00:16:57: Definitely not.

00:16:58: Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss our next deep dive.

00:17:01: And for you, our listener, here's maybe a provocative thought to mull over.

00:17:06: With this rapid convergence of commercial and defense tech we've discussed, these urgent calls for European strategic autonomy, this embrace of decentralized production and zero to one innovation.

00:17:17: How do you think the global defense landscape and really global security itself will be fundamentally reshaped by this unprecedented pace of change over say the next five years?

00:17:26: And what implications might that hold for you?