LGD: This Week's Industry Insights

In the defense sector, staying ahead means more than just adopting the latest tech—it’s about knowing how to integrate those advancements seamlessly into your existing operations.

The two major trends I'm seeing this week are modernizing legacy systems and advancing targeting capabilities.

These trends are shaping not only the future of defense but also the way companies like yours will need to adapt to remain competitive.

As CTOs, CIOs, and VPs of Engineering or Manufacturing, you’re already managing complex ecosystems. But what happens when the systems you’ve relied on for years need to be upgraded to handle new threats, like drones and missiles, or when new tech—like advanced targeting systems—needs to be integrated into existing platforms? That’s where the Critical Thread comes in, along with AI to give you that extra edge.

Let’s take a closer look at how we approach these trends and how AI & The Critical Thread helps you deliver on them.n the defense sector, staying ahead means more than just adopting the latest tech—it’s about knowing how to integrate those advancements seamlessly into your existing operations.

The two major trends I'm seeing this week are modernizing legacy systems and advancing targeting capabilities.

These trends are shaping not only the future of defense but also the way companies like yours will need to adapt to remain competitive.

As CTOs, CIOs, and VPs of Engineering or Manufacturing, you’re already managing complex ecosystems. But what happens when the systems you’ve relied on for years need to be upgraded to handle new threats, like drones and missiles, or when new tech—like advanced targeting systems—needs to be integrated into existing platforms? That’s where the Critical Thread comes in, along with AI to give you that extra edge.

Let’s take a closer look at how we approach these trends and how AI & The Critical Thread helps you deliver on them.

Modernizing Legacy Platforms: Retrofitting for Modern Threats

Trend Overview:

Rheinmetall’s upgrade of Leopard 1 tanks with the Skyranger 35 air defense system is a prime example of how you don’t need to replace an entire fleet to stay relevant. Instead of spending on new platforms, companies are retrofitting older assets with modern capabilities, turning Cold War-era tanks into advanced anti-drone systems.

This approach is cost-effective, quick to deploy, and brings new life to aging infrastructure.

Challenge:

Your biggest concern here is likely integrating these new capabilities—air defense, sensors, weight modifications—into platforms that weren’t designed for them, without compromising performance.

It’s not just about adding new tech; it’s about ensuring that these upgrades don’t create bottlenecks or vulnerabilities down the line.

How To Deliver:

We start with Design and Change Management—the first step in the Critical Thread. This ensures that any modifications are carefully managed and aligned with both your operational goals and the broader lifecycle of the platform. After that, we move into Product Validation, where we rigorously test how these upgrades perform under real-world conditions, minimizing risks before deployment.

AI’s Role:

This is where AI can make a huge difference. By creating digital twins of your platforms, we can simulate how the upgraded systems will perform in various scenarios—whether it’s defending against drone swarms or handling missile strikes.

The AI simulations help us identify and fix potential bottlenecks long before they become a problem, so when your upgraded platforms hit the field, they perform as expected.

Outcome for You:

With this approach, you get the best of both worlds: modern capabilities without the heavy investment of a full fleet replacement. Your legacy platforms become more agile, effective, and battle-ready, with AI ensuring they’re optimized for real-world conditions.

Advanced Targeting Systems: Precision in the Field

Trend Overview:

Safran’s partnership with Hanwha Defence Australia to equip Redback IFVs with the PASEO Joint Fires panoramic targeting system is a great example of how targeting and sensor technology are being pushed to new heights.

The ability to provide 360° coverage and operate in GNSS-denied environments is critical, and that’s where we’re seeing a significant shift in how these vehicles operate in modern combat.

Challenge:

For you, the challenge isn’t just about getting the best targeting systems—it’s about ensuring they’re fully integrated with the existing vehicle’s systems, including weapons, navigation, and communications. When these systems are deployed in the field, they must be ready to perform under complex conditions, from GPS outages to fast-moving combat environments.

How To Deliver:

Our focus here is on Product Validation and Integration Testing—ensuring that these targeting systems work seamlessly within your existing vehicle platforms. We validate the systems across various operational scenarios, especially in GNSS-denied environments, to ensure they perform reliably when it matters most.

AI’s Role:

The AI overlay here is all about enhancing real-time decision-making. By using AI to process and prioritize sensor data, we can help your teams react faster and more accurately to threats. AI can also predict system behavior and recommend adjustments in real time, ensuring optimal performance no matter how challenging the battlefield conditions are.

Outcome for You:

By focusing on seamless integration and leveraging AI, your teams get a targeting system that doesn’t just work—it excels. This means better battlefield outcomes, more effective engagements, and systems that adapt dynamically in real time, even in the toughest environments.

How We Make It Happen: The Critical Thread and AI in Action

Delivering on these trends isn’t just about picking the right technology—it’s about how that technology is integrated into your operations and maintained over time. Here’s how we work with you to ensure your organization is equipped for the future:

Step 1: Requirements and Design Alignment

We begin by understanding your specific operational needs, ensuring that any upgrades or new technologies align with your broader strategic goals. This is the foundation of the Critical Thread.

Step 2: Simulation and Validation

Here’s where AI becomes crucial. By creating digital twins of your platforms—whether it’s an upgraded tank or a newly integrated targeting system—we run simulations under multiple scenarios. These simulations allow us to validate performance before deployment, reducing risks and ensuring everything works as it should when it hits the field.

Step 3: Seamless System Integration

In the Integration phase, we ensure that all components—whether it’s new air defense systems or advanced targeting solutions—work together in harmony. This includes ensuring that software, hardware, and system interfaces are all fully aligned, so you’re not dealing with any last-minute surprises.

Step 4: Continuous AI-Driven Optimization

Once your platforms are in the field, AI takes over for real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance. This helps ensure that your systems continue to perform at peak efficiency, while also flagging any issues before they become operational problems.

What You Can Do Now: Key Takeaways

Leverage Full Lifecycle Integration:

The key to success is ensuring that your new technologies—whether retrofitted or new—are integrated across the entire product lifecycle. The Critical Thread approach ensures end-to-end visibility and alignment.

Use AI to Optimize and Validate Performance:

Whether you’re upgrading legacy systems or integrating new targeting solutions, AI-driven simulations and real-time data analysis give you the edge in both testing and live operations. This significantly reduces the risk of failure in the field and keeps your systems at peak performance.

Prioritize Cost-Effective Modernization:

By focusing on retrofitting and modernizing existing platforms, you can achieve operational readiness without the massive costs of full system replacements. This approach helps you maintain flexibility while ensuring your assets remain relevant and combat-effective.

Stay Ahead by Leveraging the Critical Thread and AI

In a world where defense systems need to be adaptable, agile, and future-proof, our Critical Thread approach, combined with AI, ensures you’re not just keeping up—you’re staying ahead. Whether you’re modernizing legacy platforms or integrating cutting-edge targeting systems, we provide the framework and technology to help you deliver on these trends efficiently and effectively.

Let’s talk about how we can apply this approach to your operations and ensure your systems are ready for the challenges of tomorrow.