The future of defence is feedback-defined

Originally, the concept of software-defined-x originated in the IT and telecommunications industries. It represented a turning point: hardware functionality was systematically shifted into software to enable faster innovation, centralized control, and greater flexibility. What began with servers and networks has since spread across industries – most visibly into automotive, where Software-Defined-Vehicles (SDV) have become the centerpiece of almost every product roadmap in recent years. Due to geopolitical escalations and changes in modern warfare, software-defined approaches play an increasingly important role in the Defense industry. The promise is familiar: agility, speed, and adaptability through software. But defense is not IT. Nor is it automotive. The SDV parallel is tempting – new models every few years, updates over the air – yet defense systems are traditionally built for 20-30-year lifecycles, while some tactical components may need replacement every few months or even weeks.

The question is therefore whether Software-Defined-Defense (SDD) enables the products the sector needs. Our answer: SDD is necessary, but not sufficient. On the battlefield, adaptability does not come from software alone. It depends on the tight coupling of three layers – adaptable software (SDD), modular hardware (+), and fast operational feedback loops (++) – which continuously reshape both to enhance capabilities and respond to enemy countermeasures (see exhibit 1). SDV is a useful inspiration; SDD++ is the destination.