The defence industry is moving toward a software-defined defence (SDD) model and technology-integrated warfare, transitioning from hardware-centric platforms to a Defence as a Platform (DaaP) approach.
This strategy disaggregates sensors from effectors and software from hardware to create adaptive, data-centric battle networks. Software is enabled for data analysis, ease of use and increasing data exploitation with embedded AI, standards and automation. Any defence user, system integrator or purchaser should be taking advantage of SDD in their defence work.
How would the industry cope if software were removed?
Without software, the industry would quickly fall back to disconnected, static hardware, with analogue communications, a reduced view of adversaries’ activities and almost zero operational capacity. This is how the defence industry used to operate, but technology and time have advanced.
Adversaries are using software in any and every aspect, along with emerging disruptive technologies such as AI and unmanned vehicles. Software is used as a weapon via cyber tactics, to source intelligence from “open” data and speed up the OODA loop.
Software is foundational in connecting systems, sharing intelligence, enabling multi-domain operations (MDO) and giving an operational edge. The data within software has been called the “new gunpowder,” powering more targeted, effective operations.
Key considerations
What are the key aspects of software-defined defence that defence agencies, system integrators and other stakeholders should understand and leverage? They include open architectures, modularity, data centricity, rapid adaptability, interoperability and the integration of AI with autonomous systems. Together, these foundational elements converge to enable a new era of technology-integrated warfare.
The concept of software-defined capability is already well established in the civilian domain, where a single hardware platform — such as a smartphone — can support a wide range of functions through purpose-built software applications. This same principle is now reshaping defence.
Octave defence solutions
Our white paper explores how defence organizations can adopt and harness the advantages of SDD.