“Imagine a world where the most powerful weapon is not a
fighter jet, tank or missile, but a rapid software update.
In just a few hours, you can update the software of drones
used on the front line and render the enemy’s electronic warfare systems, which
cost millions, almost ineffective.
This is not science fiction, but today’s reality. Such
software updates are constantly performed by soldiers on drones before they are
used on the real battlefield.
In order to adapt to the extremely rapidly changing
battlefield, the military created Brave1, a defense innovation ecosystem that
unites programmers, startups, engineers, investors and soldiers in one
continuous cycle of technology development and implementation.
An important part of this system is Brave1 Market, a digital
platform where military units receive e- points (ePoints), and their combat
results are reflected in a special rating in real time.
The accumulated points can be used as an internal digital
currency - to purchase new drones, electronic warfare equipment, robotic
systems or their components. This has made the process of acquiring military
equipment faster, more transparent and flexible, and has given commanders of
military units the opportunity to decide for themselves what technologies are
most needed to carry out their tasks at a given time.
All this shows that future conflicts will increasingly be
determined not only by the number of weapons or their power, but also by the
ability to quickly develop, update and deploy software.
Long public procurement cycles are gradually being replaced
by the speed of technology startups, and software code, along with daily
modernizing unmanned systems, is becoming one of the most important weapons of
modern warfare.
For more than 50 years, the Western defense industry has
been developing increasingly larger and more expensive weapons systems.
However, today, war is increasingly determined not by tanks or fighter jets,
but by software.
The problem is that traditional defense procurement is too
slow. It can take years to develop specifications, conduct tenders, sign
contracts, and produce equipment.
By the time a system finally reaches the military, its
software is often outdated, and updating software for licensed and
closed-architecture systems can take years due to complex technical, legal, and
contractual procedures.
In modern conflict, a software update created overnight can
change everything. A new electronic warfare solution can instantly disable
hundreds of drones or, conversely, restore their advantage. Therefore,
decision-making processes that take months or even years become a serious
drawback.
That is why the military created Brave1, a defense
innovation ecosystem that operates on the principles of technology startups.
Today, Brave1:
unites more than 3,200 companies;
develops more than 4,500 defense technology products;
has awarded over 500 innovation grants worth over $11
million.
The platform connects programmers, engineers, startups,
investors, and soldiers in a continuous development cycle. Promising ideas can
be evaluated, funded, and tested much faster than in the traditional defense
system.
International companies such as Airbus and Palantir are also
contributing to the development of advanced data and artificial intelligence
solutions for the military.
Brave1 focuses not on equipment costing billions, but on
technologies that are changing the nature of warfare today:
artificial intelligence-controlled drones;
electronic warfare systems;
autonomous ground robots;
computer vision solutions;
unmanned maritime platforms.
One of the most important principles of this ecosystem is
openness. Unlike in the traditional defense industry, developers share software
code, technical solutions, and engineering expertise, so new technologies are
developed much faster.
Expensive heavy military equipment no longer guarantees
success
The greatest revolution in modern warfare was not caused by
a new missile or tank. It was caused by economics.
For decades, it was believed that to destroy expensive
military equipment, no less expensive weapons were needed. For a tank,
anti-tank missiles. For an airplane, modern air defense systems.
However, this logic is changing rapidly.
Innovation ecosystems such as Brave1 have shown that systems
costing millions can be neutralized using cheap commercial electronics, open
source software, and artificial intelligence.
Today, a typical commercial FPV drone, supplemented with
3D-printed components and an artificial intelligence module costing about 50
euros, can cost about 500 euros [1].
But the most important part is not the plastic or
electronics, but the software. It is what allows the drone to accurately
detect, identify and destroy armored vehicles, the value of which can reach
tens of millions of dollars.
This fundamentally changes the economics of conflict.
When one cheap drone can destroy equipment tens or even
hundreds of times more expensive, it changes not only the weaponry but the
entire logic of war.
In modern conflict, it is becoming increasingly important
not to be the one who makes the most expensive weapon, but to be the one who is
most likely to be able to develop, update and adapt software to the
ever-changing conditions of the battlefield.”
1. In low-cost drones, artificial intelligence (AI) modules
operate using compact chips, machine vision, and optical tracking algorithms.
These systems allow drones to recognize targets and fly without constant
communication.
How it works technically
• Digital signal processors (SoC): small, low-power chips
are used that perform calculations directly inside the drone (onboard).
• Computer vision: the image from a simple camera is sent to
simplified neural network models (e.g., YOLO type), which detect objects by
shape or color. These are simplified neural network models that are adapted to
work quickly and use few resources. Key features: fewer parameters, grouping
into a grid (grid) and a single analysis pass
• Autonomous control: the chip itself forms commands for the
flight controller when the connection with the control panel is lost or the GPS
is suppressed.
Key advantages
• Immunity to interference: operates in a complete radio
silence zone, where electronic defense cannot block the drone signal.
• Low cost: no need for expensive satellite or laser
systems, a basic camera and a cheap microcontroller are enough.
• Fast response: decisions are made in real time within a
few milliseconds directly inside the drone.
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