Four in five defence decision-makers put AI at the forefront of their digital strategies

A new report, published by BAE Systems’ Digital Intelligence business, has revealed that four in five (82%) defence and aerospace decision-makers and engineers said artificial intelligence (AI) is at the forefront of their digital strategies – highlighting the importance of cutting-edge technologies to staying ahead in today’s demanding defence landscape.

A key focus for organisations adopting solutions like AI is ensuring customer assets such as warships, armoured vehicles and combat aircraft, remain mission ready. With 80% of respondents stating that available, reliable assets are crucial as customers respond to mounting geopolitical tensions, around two-thirds said they are investing more in digital solutions for asset management this year compared to 2024.

Gathering insight from 540 senior IT and business decision-makers and engineers from across the globe, the report – Emerging technology behind the scenes of defence – examines the state of asset readiness in defence and the technology challenges decision-makers face.

Defence under pressure amid a new era of threat

These findings come against a backdrop of complexity. Nearly all (97%) decision-makers in defence and aerospace said there is pressure to keep assets mission ready and eight in ten (81%) stated that transforming their organisation’s approach is a key priority for 2025, citing challenges such as a lack of interoperability between systems and a deluge of data.

Andrea Thompson, Group Managing Director at BAE Systems’ Digital Intelligence business, said: “The rapidly evolving nature of warfare is placing heightened pressure on many of our customers to meet the demands of a constantly shifting threat landscape. That pressure includes ensuring critical assets operate at peak performance, for as long and as often as possible.

“To help, we’ve developed our data integration solution, PropheSEA®, which harnesses emerging innovation to ease the burden on forces and support the fast, informed decision-making today’s battlespace demands. Next generation, AI-powered solutions can help to overcome key data challenges – ultimately ensuring that assets remain warfighting ready amid a new era of threat.”

The research demonstrates a clear need for complex asset management solutions, such as BAE Systems’ PropheSEA® – a systems and data integration software that uses AI to deliver integrated product support across an asset’s entire lifecycle. Already in use with the UK Royal Navy and NATO allies, PropheSEA® enables users to securely connect data related to their assets. By bringing together information around the asset’s condition, preparedness and performance into one place, the solution cuts through the complexity so that leaders can make accurate and quick decisions. 

Digital strategies prioritise data management, AI and analytics

Moving forward, introducing more advanced digital solutions will elevate asset management and levels of readiness. Only 12% of respondents, however, can say they’re at an advanced or optimised stage with this currently, highlighting the potential still to be realised.

Despite this, there are signs of strong momentum. Alongside putting AI at the heart of their strategies, some of the ways organisations are evolving their complex asset management approach include: standards-based technologies; big data and advanced analytics; condition-based monitoring systems; advanced simulation and modelling tools; and product life cycle management / enterprise resource planning.

To learn more about the emerging technologies behind the scenes of defence, download the report today: https://baesystems.com/defencetechtruths