Artificial intelligence (AI) has become an integral part of our society. From autonomous vehicles to medical imaging and logistics optimisation: AI applications are everywhere, including in defence and security.

AI is therefore strategically important in the context of defence and security, for example in infrastructure monitoring, training and education, operational decision-making, control of autonomous systems, logistical support, medical applications, enhancing communication, cybersecurity, and much more.

Flanders aims to bring together existing expertise and deploy it strategically to accelerate innovation and strengthen its position within the European and transatlantic defence ecosystem. This roadmap and its implementation are intended to contribute to this goal

Flanders has a solid foundation of innovative companies, research institutions, and research & development centres active in and on AI. Today, Flemish companies are highly active in decision support, data science, AI computing, AI for communication, intelligent sensing, simulations, and human-AI interaction. To accelerate innovation in the AI defence ecosystem, emphasis is also placed on the importance of collaboration between government, industry, and research institutions (the triple helix).

The roadmap identifies four complementary pillars:

• AI Sensing: Development of smart sensors and sensor fusion for real-time, context-aware observation and threat detection, enabling the capability to accurately monitor and inform in rapidly changing contexts and environments, with diverse actors and high complexity.
• AI Compute: AI systems that can respond to rapidly changing conditions must not only be flexible, efficient, and secure from a software perspective, but also supported by the appropriate hardware. This includes expectations for adaptable hardware, with attention to new hardware paradigms in relation to AI architectures, edge computing capabilities, and relevant testing infrastructures.
• AI for Communication: Communication refers to the secure and reliable sharing of information between different defence units to carry out various activities, such as operations, issuing orders, and so on. At the same time, measures should be taken to interfere with unwanted communications. The emphasis here is on secure, reliable communication and AI-assisted detection, as well as on tracking and disrupting hostile signals.
• AI for Operational Support: AI is a valuable technology that can help provide operational support across a broad range of application domains and in interaction with humans. The emphasis lies on optimising logistics, decision-making, simulation, training, and human-AI interaction to support efficient military operations.

With its strong ecosystem and innovative SMEs, Flanders is well placed to play a key role in advancing AI for defence. By prioritising collaboration, digital sovereignty, and targeted investment, Flanders wants to position itself as a reliable partner within Europe and NATO.