Defence AI & Autonomous Systems
Artificial intelligence and autonomous systems are increasingly framed within NATO and EU strategy as determinants of operational tempo, resilience, and scalable mass rather than as isolated innovation projects. This analysis examines how the pursuit of technological edge translates into concrete requirements for data-centric command-and-control, distributed sensing, autonomous effect delivery, and secure digital infrastructure capable of operating under contested spectrum and cyber conditions. It situates AI and autonomy within the broader transformation of Euro-Atlantic defence planning after 2022, assessing the interaction between policy frameworks, assurance regimes, industrial capacity, and battlefield evidence from Ukraine. The focus is on whether current governance, integration, and production pathways are sufficient to convert strategic ambition into sustained operational performance across multiple theatres in the 2025–2035 horizon.