Shaping the future of defence through software

Sven Heursch: We've seen how Ukrainian operators use AI-assisted systems to process vast amounts of sensor data - identifying targets, tracking threats, predicting attack patterns. This will be the key to remaining effective on the battlefield in the future. Therefore, these capabilities must also be incorporated into our products, but for us, the following applies: The human operator makes the final decision. For us, using AI in defence means it needs to enhance human judgement, not replace it.

Our systems are designed with explainable AI and intuitive interfaces that allow an operator to understand why a recommendation was made. For example, in reconnaissance scenarios, AI might classify an object as a threat - but the soldier always sees the reasoning behind it or the statistical reliability and remains the final decision-maker.

This human-centric design is also crucial for trust. Soldiers must feel confident that the technology supports them rather than overrides them. In practical terms, this means embedding AI responsibly, ensuring transparency in algorithms, and training operators to work in human-machine teams.

At HENSOLDT, we are already applying these principles in our AI projects for surveillance and protection systems. It is not about autonomous warfare, but about giving soldiers better situational awareness and faster decision cycles, while ensuring ethical and legal compliance.