Enhancing military capabilities through increased participation from the civilian sector is one of the top priorities for French Adm. Piere Vandier, the newly appointed chief of the Allied Command Transformation at NATO.
In an interview with Defense News, Vandier discussed the growth trajectory of innovation, which focuses on technologies such as software, artificial intelligence, optronics and communication systems that support warships, aircraft and other major platforms. He emphasized the need for a more rapid technology innovation process.
“This innovation loop is important because the more you test, the more you may find good solutions,” the official said. He pointed out that NATO’s adversaries are “learning a lot,” and it is essential for the alliance to learn even more than its opponents.
Government Policy Resynchronization
Vandier also highlighted the importance of resynchronizing efforts in the defense planning process as a key priority since he took on his NATO role in September. He mentioned that European governments had introduced numerous legal and financial regulations regarding defense investments, resulting in unfavorable ratings from banks that perceive spending on defense as unwise.
According to Vandier, defense companies tend to earn more in markets outside the European Union, which they view as fragmented. “My main priorities are giving foresight to the stakeholders of NATO, which also include the political side,” he said.