The next step - AI-supported Battlefield Management Systems

Part I - Overview and Capability Analysis

AuthorAuthor

Jannic Meyer & Linus Wittenburg
April 23, 2025

Part I - Overview and Capability Analysis

Welcome back to the Resilience Newsletter!

Today we welcome Linus Wittenburg as a guest author, examining how AI integration in modern Battlefield Management Systems is able to enhance combat effectiveness in various scenarios. Linus is completing his MSc in Management at the London Business School and has worked in tech consulting for several years, during which he gained a specialisation in AI applications. He is also a 2nd lieutenant in the German Armed Forces, specialised in Reconnaissance.

In our modern age of technological innovation, few advancements have had a more profound and transformative impact than artificial intelligence. It embodies the intersection between human ingenuity and machine learning, allowing us to radically increase the speed of innovation in science and technology, including the defence sector. However, while already implemented in large-scale military networks such as logistics or cyberspace, the tactical use of AI in combat scenarios has remained largely absent up to now [1].

At the same time, military conflicts are becoming increasingly difficult to grasp, with the rising importance of drones, autonomous technologies, and cyber warfare adding additional layers of complexity. In this new era of warfare, the cognitive demands on soldiers and their need to multitask in high-stakes environments are bound to surpass individual capabilities, making AI an indispensable ally in enhancing performance in combat and clearing the “fog of war” [2].

Over the next few weeks, we will examine how the integration of Artificial Intelligence into our ground forces will revolutionise the way we conduct and manage operations. This will include identifying the limitations of existing Battlefield Management Systems (BMSs) and what specific improvements can be leveraged from an AI-centered approach. We will examine specific use cases applicable to an intelligent BMS through various combat scenarios and visualise how soldiers use this technology on the battlefield. Beyond that, we will take a look ahead and assess implementation options in current real-world conflicts.

Yours,
Uwe, Jack and Jannic

Battlefield Management Systems and Their Use in Modern Armies 

Before analysing how AI capabilities can aid communication and decision-making in the armed forces, one must first understand the current state of combat information technology.

A Battlefield Management System (BMS) is an integrated, digital system that supports military operations on a tactical level. Different countries use varying BMS models based on their individual performance preferences and access to technology. The most sophisticated among these include SitaWare (a NATO standard used by the USA, Germany, the UK, and other Western countries), WIN BMS (developed by Israel), and Kropyva/Delta (used by Ukraine) [3] [4] [5].

The system’s primary purpose is to encompass all the C4ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) capabilities required to operate in highly dynamic combat situations. BMS enables real-time communication and coordination between higher command and allies, down to individual forward command posts, vehicles, or squads, providing a superior level of decision-making. Key capabilities include:

  1. Situational Awareness: A real-time digital map displays own, friendly, enemy and neutral troops as well as visualising geographic and environmental data. Collection and integration of UAV and radar observations.

  2. Communication and Fusion: Secure channels for communication and data exchange between units, platforms and allied forces, as well as consolidation of information from different sources.

  3. Planning and Execution: Pre-mission planning and briefing, scenario-based simulations, post-mission debriefs.

  4. Overwatch and Coordination: Live tracking of troop position and status. Synchronised direction of army, naval and aerial forces, management of ammunition, fuel and other resources.

Linking Operations and Combat: BMS across Chains of Command

To ensure a rapid exchange of information, a BMS is supported by a network of physical terminals. Military facilities such as forward command posts, as well as vehicles containing the squad commander, use larger systems that gather information provided by individual units, allied forces, or reconnaissance devices like ground sensors, UAVs or satellites. Using these inputs, the current situation picture is relayed to higher command, analysed according to mission parameters, and corresponding orders are passed back down to the frontline units.

Fig. 1: Ukrainian command post using their BMS “Kropyva” to analyse reconnaissance images.
Source: Army SOS

Mobile units, such as infantry, are equipped with smaller, handheld devices that allow squads to share and receive information with each other or higher command while on the move. Such compact terminals typically come in the form of reinforced tablets or similar handheld devices equipped with a waterproof casing and a touch screen, allowing the soldier to quickly access information or update the combat map on the go. This provides single squads with additional means of communication beyond the use of radios, allowing higher command to conduct multi-unit operations more effectively while reducing risks such as miscommunication or friendly fire.

Fig. 2: German infantry soldier using Rheinmetall’s “TecNet” BMS.
Source: Rheinmetall

Unlocking the Full Potential of BMSs using AI

While the introduction of portable battlefield management systems has opened up an array of new ways to manage operations, their potential is not yet fully realised. Current systems still face limitations in processing and responding to the growing complexity of modern combat scenarios due to one deciding limiting factor: our limited ability to effectively process data.

This is where artificial intelligence steps in, leveraging data-driven capabilities to transform decision-making into a more adaptive, efficient, and predictive process. By enhancing real-time insights, enabling predictive analysis, and facilitating seamless data flow across units, AI seamlessly integrates into key areas such as overwatch and decision-making. These advancements allow AI-supported systems to excel in dynamic combat scenarios, optimising coordination and delivering a decisive edge on the battlefield.

To visualise these advancements, the spider diagram below displays the performance of current BMS products (light green) and the potential gains through AI integration (dark green).

Fig. 3: Spider diagram displaying the performance gains in BMS features through AI integration.
Source: Linus Wittenburg

Additionally, the following table provides a more detailed overview of what current systems can do, the tasks that can be accomplished by integrating intelligent systems, and a few examples of what such improvements could entail.

Fig. 4: Overview of what current systems can do, which tasks can be done by integrating intelligent systems, and examples of what such improvements could look like.
Source: Linus Wittenburg

Almost every feature of modern BMS can be either enhanced or completely overhauled through the use of AI. The main advantages come in the form of predictive and autonomous capabilities, allowing soldiers to consider a larger set of input data while receiving additional support in deriving the necessary takeaways. While many of these features may seem complex to implement at first glance, there are already comparable use cases in civilian sectors that use AI-supported systems to perform similar tasks. However, with an increasing number of BMSs following a multi-platform approach that supports operating systems such as Linux, the integration of specialised software is comparatively simple [6].

In the next edition of the “European Resilience Newsletter”, we will examine which existing AI systems are suitable for integration into current Battlefield Management Systems. Furthermore, we will take a look at how AI-supported BMSs features could be integrated visually based on various combat scenarios.

Stay tuned for part 2!

Sources and further reading

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European Resilience Tech Newsletter Team

Uwe Horstmann co-founded Project A Ventures in 2012 as General Partner and has built Project A to be a leading European early-stage investor with over $1bn USD under management and having backed 100+ founders. In addition to Project A, Uwe serves as Reserve Officer in the German armed forces and advises the German Ministry of Defence in digital transformation issues.

Jack Wang is a software engineer turned product-driven tech investor and joined Project A in 2021 to lead the firm’s deep tech investing, which has grown to include DefenceTech. Prior to joining Project A, Jack worked in a variety of organisations such as Amazon and Macquarie Group across Australia, US and UK / Europe. Jack holds a MBA from London Business School and Bachelors of Engineering (Bioinformatics, 1st) from UNSW, Australia.

Jannic Meyer joined Project A initially contributing to what is now known as the Project A Studio, partnering with founders at the pre-idea stage, where he covered a variety of topics ranging from energy infrastructure to dual-use robotics and led our investment in ARX Robotics. He is now part of the investment team at Project A covering all things resilience.

Project A Ventures is one of the leading early-stage tech investors in Europe with offices in Berlin and London. In addition to 1 billion USD assets under management, Project A supports its 100+ portfolio companies with a platform team over 140 functional experts in key areas such as software and product development, business intelligence, brand, design, marketing, sales and recruiting. Project A have backed founders of Trade Republic, WorldRemit, Sennder, KRY, Spryker, Catawiki, Unmind and Voi as well as founders building in European Resilience: