Delivering Defence Digital Transformation: Let’s Get Ambitious

Recently, the Royal United Services Institute, RUSI, launched a report analysing defence technology priorities in Poland, France, Germany, the UK, and Spain highlighting some of Europe’s most critical defence challenges. This blog dives into how nations should invest, scale and accelerate their digital defence transformation.  

The RUSI report coincides with the European Commission’s White paper for European defence – Readiness 2030, which suggests significant investments in critical defence capabilities, including AI, quantum and cybersecurity. Digital technologies (such as AI and advanced secure connectivity) are recognized for their capacity to disrupt and transform traditional approaches to defence.

Growing defence budgets

In response to evolving security needs, Europe is strategically boosting defence investments through substantial financial initiatives. The Commission’s ‘Security Action For Europe’ (SAFE) regulation introduces up to €150 billion worth of loans to Member States to help boost military spending. Member States will also be allowed to deviate from the deficit and debt limits of the Stability and Growth Pact, potentially unlocking additional defence expenditure of up to 1.5% of EU GDP, totalling €650 billion.

Across Europe, nations are committing to heightened defence budgets. As one example, the UK Government recently announced it will allocate at least 10% of its Ministry of Defence equipment budget to emerging technologies and adopt a three-month technology adoption cycle.

In its paper, RUSI proposes that countries adopt a pragmatic approach and temper their ambitions due to scaling challenges. While Cisco recognizes the necessity to be realistic, it should not prevent acceleration towards achievable defence technology goals.

Countries should seize the moment to invest, scale and accelerate, with a focus on achievable milestones. Nations should double-down on their investments in digital backbones, digital resilience and addressing legacy systems. Scaling should involve adopting commercial off-the-shelf solutions by default and improving interoperability. Acceleration can be achieved by boosting digital skills, adopting agile procurement and fostering innovation.

To enable rapid and efficient transformation, it’s crucial to remove barriers and overcome challenges inhibiting capability development and deployment. This requires focusing on quantifiable, measurable outcomes, and greater collaboration between industry and defence to ensure sustainable change.

So, what does Cisco’s Invest, Scale and Accelerate approach look like?

Invest in the right priorities

• Cloud-first approach: Embrace cloud technologies for their security, agility, and interoperability benefits, while respecting sovereignty requirements as necessary.
• Address legacy systems: Overcome fragmented, outdated technologies that hinder digital transformation in defence by addressing legacy systems through new commercial approaches, improving inventory visibility, adopting risk management approaches and deployment of compensating controls.
• Enhance military digital resilience: As reliance on digital technology increases, boost digital resilience to absorb potential shocks and be ready to swiftly restore critical services.
• Implement a digital backbone: Where appropriate, deploy advanced networking solutions, to improve cross domain data sharing, decision making and interoperability.

Scale by modernizing and addressing long term impediments to innovation

• Improve interoperability: Facilitate interoperability across allies through the adoption of recognized international commercial standards.
• Adopt best of breed, commercial off the shelf: Radically modernize the defence technology estate by adopting commercial off-the-shelf best-of-breed technologies as the default, allowing defence forces flexibility to access the best available technology.

Accelerate the delivery of defence capability through technology

• Transform acquisition approaches: Develop integrated agile procurement models, engaging with industry early in an open and collaborative manner. Enable leaders to balance technology risk against capability and speed of deployment.
• Address the lack of digital skills: Form partnerships to improve digital skills, leveraging programs like Cisco’s Networking Academy, which has graduated millions across Europe, including significant numbers within the defence community.
• Speed up innovation: Reduce the distance between users and technology. Involve them in the development and feedback of new capabilities. Move quickly by optimizing bureaucracy and assurance processes.

The RUSI report and EU Commission’s white paper underscore the imperative for swift digital transformation in European defence technology. Initiatives like the EU’s Readiness 2030 and national spending plans create a unique opportunity to put that into action. Cisco stands ready to help drive innovation and collaboration in defence technology.

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