By John Ridge, Chief Adoption Officer, NATO Innovation Fund

The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has taught us lessons beyond the power of new technologies like drones in the air, sea, and on land. Two of our portfolio companies, ARX and TEKEVER, prove that the real story is about how quickly these technologies can evolve, how insights from the battlefield shape their development, and how having a resilient and scalable manufacturing system is vital. These lessons go far beyond military circles – they offer a glimpse into how innovation and resilience can shape the future of defence and beyond.

Lesson 1: Evolving Technology in Real Time

In modern conflict, staying ahead means being able to improve and adapt technology faster than your adversary. In Ukraine, we’ve seen how forces are constantly upgrading their tactics, tools and systems to counter new threats or gain an upper hand. This ability to evolve technology in real time – whether it’s updating a drone’s software or improving communication tools – has been a game-changer. It’s no longer about waiting years for the next version of a product; it’s about making improvements on the fly to meet immediate needs on the battlefield. A prime example is our portfolio company TEKEVER. Since 2022, TEKEVER has been actively cooperating with the Ukrainian military, deploying its advanced drones for intelligence gathering, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance missions. In a war where speed and adaptability are everything, TEKEVER’s systems are reconfigured within a matter of hours based on real-time battlefield intelligence, helping the Ukrainian forces stay one step ahead and pinpoint hidden, high-value Russian targets.

Lesson 2: Insights from the Front Lines

Traditionally, defence technologies have been developed over decades, often with little input from the soldiers, sailors and aviators who will end up using them. The result? Tools that don’t always meet the needs of those on the ground. Ukraine has flipped this approach on its head. There’s now a constant flow of feedback from soldiers on the front lines to the people designing and building the technology. If something isn’t working or needs improvement, those insights are shared almost immediately, and changes can be made in hours or days. This close connection between the end users and the tech providers ensures that the capabilities being developed are practical, effective, and ready for the realities of combat. A prime example is ARX. Its unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) are actively deployed on the frontlines in Ukraine. They are primarily used for casualty evacuation as well as logistics tasks – transporting supplies, ammunition, and equipment to and from forward positions. ARX maintains a dedicated technical support structure that includes an ARX engineer who is directly available to units in the field – providing remote troubleshooting and on-the-ground consultation. Feedback from Ukrainian soldiers under fire is collected continuously and fed back to its headquarters, where it’s assessed and integrated into product development. This constant dialogue enables ARX to understand real-world use cases, identify technical challenges early, and adapt its systems rapidly to the operational realities on the ground.

Lesson 3: A Flexible Manufacturing System

One of the biggest challenges in war is sustaining supplies to the front lines, especially when factories or production lines are targeted. Ukraine has shown the importance of having a manufacturing system that isn’t dependent on single points of failure. Diversifying production across multiple sites creates a system that’s much harder to disrupt. ARX has built a supply chain around commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components, which gives the company a high degree of flexibility and independence from specific vendors or national sourcing constraints. Also, the ARX Ukraine entity is building its own supply chain locally and operates independently from company headquarters, ensuring resilience, adaptability, and local responsiveness. Similarly, TEKEVER has announced the opening of a new entity in Ukraine to cement its long-term support. This initiative will establish a network of Ukrainian facilities focused on maintenance, engineering support and research. Crucially, it will also create local jobs, supporting the Ukrainian economy. Ultimately, the company is stepping up its support to the Ukrainian armed forces by tapping into regional innovation and expertise, while strengthening overall European defence resilience.

What This Means for the Future

The lessons from Ukraine offer a clear roadmap for how technology and innovation will shape future conflicts:

• Evolving Technology in Real Time: The ability to quickly improve and adapt tools will be essential. It’s not just about having reliable equipment – it’s about making sure it can be updated fast enough to retain a competitive edge.
• Insights from the Front Lines: Direct feedback from the warfighters who are actually using the technology is a vital part of development. This ensures that capabilities are practical, effective, and tailored to real-world needs.
• A Flexible Manufacturing System: Decentralized production will be critical for creating a supply chain that’s resilient and adaptable, even in the face of disruptions.