Digitalization is becoming increasingly important – and increasingly urgent – for the capability development of the German armed forces. Software is particularly important because it allows systems to be updated more quickly. A new BWI platform is intended to help the Bundeswehr develop software more quickly in the future.
Russia's attack on Ukraine and thus on the security policy order in Europe marked a turning point in security policy. This results in decisive changes for the Bundeswehr. One aspect is the need to quickly develop or adapt capabilities so that the German armed forces are and remain operational and resilient against the background of these and other new threats. Also and especially in the area of digital. In order for German soldiers to be able to act precisely, appropriately and, above all, faster than the enemy in combat, they particularly need information and leadership superiority. This is where modern transmission technologies, artificial intelligence (AI) or cloud computing come into play. But not just in the classic military dimensions of land, air and sea. Dangers for everyone increasingly come from virtual space, for example in the form of hybrid threats or cyber attacks.
Added to this is the rapid technological progress, especially in the form of digitalization: ever larger amounts of data that have to be mastered, and as a result ever more powerful computers and ever faster development of software, especially in the area of AI. Today, little works without information technology. This also applies to weapon systems such as tanks, aircraft or ships.
Software as an enabler
The Bundeswehr must become ever faster and more powerful and software is a key. It makes it easier to update technological platforms. An example from the automotive industry makes the approach clear: Tesla is now introducing adaptive high beam for the Model 3 with headlights that were installed from 2021 - via a software update. This is exactly where the Bundeswehr’s “Software Defined Defense” (SDD) concept comes into play. Essentially, it is about concentrating more on the software than on the hardware when further developing weapon systems. On the one hand, this enables faster and more flexible adjustments to the requirements of modern operational management.
On the other hand, it allows networking and thus improved cooperation between the systems and one another. A central element of SDD is the idea of an “Internet of Military Things”. This is how Frank Leidenberger, Chief Executive Officer of BWI, recently expressed it at the Handelsblatt conference “Security and Defense 2024”. At the end of January, he spoke to Lieutenant General Michael Vetter, head of the cyber and information technology department at the Federal Ministry of Defense, in a panel about the concept and its advantages for the Bundeswehr.
Faster development through standards
With the aim of developing and adapting software more quickly in the future in order to be able to use existing software modules better and across armed forces and thus to introduce software-based innovations more quickly, the BWI has been building “Platform42” since last year. The model for the project is the US Department of Defense's Platform One. Experts in the US armed forces also agree on the increasing importance of software in the military and its impact on the way military conflicts are waged.
BWI’s Platform42
The year before last, BWI began building Platform42, which is much more than a development environment. At its core, it's about an ecosystem in which BWI developers work together with their customers from the Bundeswehr and partners from industry. The focus is on providing software development teams that carry out tasks such as design, coding, testing, coaching or system administration for the Bundeswehr. A framework agreement enables BWI to integrate external developers from a pool of over 50 IT companies if necessary.
A “Software Engineering Framework” defines standards, methods and best practices with which applications are developed for the Bundeswehr. Standards create software components that can easily be reused for other products without having to start from scratch each time during development. They also ensure that software is compatible and that the requirements for interoperability between the branches of the Bundeswehr and allied armed forces of other nations are met. Developed software components are evaluated and collected in a “shared production base” and can be used for other products if necessary.
And finally, it will include a development platform that BWI is currently setting up in one of its data centers. This hardware, which is specifically intended for software engineering, creates an environment in which developers can program cloud-capable software according to the standards of the Bundeswehr and BWI as well as for all required operating platforms. It should be finished by the end of the year. With Platform42, BWI is pursuing its most important goal as the Bundeswehr's primary digitalization partner: to develop and provide IT solutions that help the Bundeswehr to continuously increase the command and operational capability and combat effectiveness of its armed forces.
Dr. Rolf Hageris Head of Software Engineering at BWI GmbH
Related topics
MBDA Germany: Guido Brendler takes over management of sales and business development MBDA presents its “Way ahead” “The 2025 division will show whether we are on the right track” World premiere of the Merlin light tactical vehicle for light infantry forces Third mobile radar device for airspace surveillance BWI relies more on collaboration with partners Strong sales and earnings growth at Heckler and Koch Portugal acquires P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft from the Bundeswehr Defense Department needs to improve operationally