As advanced digital technologies are increasingly becoming an integral part of troops training, this study was conceived with the purpose to analyse the current state of their utilisation, and the eventual future developments. Prompted by the initiative of the Swedish CoS, chair of Finabel for the year 2020, the research analysed three strategically relevant areas: the dimensions of cultural interoperability, the defence industry, and the issues concerning data exchange between MS. The findings highlight that a more concerted engagement would have spill-over effects in different sectors and boost the Union’s competitiveness and autonomy.

The implementation of a wider cooperation, transversal to the EU military-industrial complex and finalised to obtain a higher degree of interoperability of platforms, is in the best interest of all Finabel’s MS, and actions must be taken to avoid being left behind in this key defence sector.