NATO DIANA, in collaboration with Allied Command Operations, is launching a new targeted challenge to find digital solutions that can boost NATO’s operational planning and execution.
The Decision Superiority for NATO Warfighters challenge will seek artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) and supporting software solutions that enhance military planning through improved modelling and simulation, targeting support and operational wargaming
Launching on Monday 20 April, the Call will remain open for 2 weeks, with innovators being able to submit proposals until Tuesday 5 May at 9:00 AM BST.
Driving innovation in military planning
NATO’s recent acquisition of Maven Smart System NATO (MSS NATO) serves as a foundation for DIANA’s Decision Superiority for NATO Warfighters challenge. With MSS NATO already modernising Allied Command Operations through an advanced AI–enabled digital warfighting platform, the Decision Superiority for NATO Warfighters challenge is designed to drive this momentum further by inviting innovators to demonstrate how they can augment NATO Allied Command Operation’s capabilities.
NATO DIANA’s Decision Superiority for NATO Warfighters challenge is therefore looking for next-generation solutions – AI, ML models, and other software solutions – that can integrate with and improve platforms like MSS NATO.
Programme benefits
Up to ten innovators selected through the Decision Superiority for NATO Warfighters challenge will receive €100,000 of contractual funding from DIANA to enable scoping and then demonstration of their solution in a cloud ‘demo’ environment.
DIANA will facilitate a demonstration environment for selected innovators to showcase their solutions to NATO stakeholders, with a focus on Allied Command Operations’ use cases. Successful innovators will use funding from DIANA to integrate their solution into the cloud environment and show how their solutions work in a simulated setting.
Following demonstrations, if NATO/Allies determine that the solutions provide a compelling capability that they wish to deploy, DIANA will be able to award follow-on prototyping contracts that enable extended periods of usage and validation.
Jyoti Hirani-Driver, Acting Managing Director at NATO DIANA, said:
“Through this challenge, we will enable NATO forces to outpace threats with better and faster decision‑making. DIANA is working in collaboration with ACO to accelerate innovation at the heart of operational planning — strengthening our collective defence and protecting the security of our citizens across the Alliance.”