Deftech at the service of deterrence

A tribune by Charles Beigbeder and Christophe Gomart

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Towards a ‘war economy’

The authors recall that the classic model of arms acquisition “is no longer suited to the brutality and unpredictability of modern conflicts.”
Innovation in defense must now be part of a logic of agility, rapid experimentation and cooperation between armies and technology companies.

“As Sébastien Lecornu recently recalled when he was Minister of the Armed Forces, France must enter into a true ‘war economy’, capable of producing quickly and en masse.”

The deftech, a new innovation ecosystem

This transformation is based on the emergence of a network of dual civil-military start-ups, capable of offering quick, inexpensive and immediately deployable operational solutions.
The authors evoke a true “disruption” in the field of defense, comparable to that which has disrupted the civilian sectors: small agile companies now complement, or even supplement, the large armament programs.

“As in the civil economy, where major players are jostled by agile start-ups, defense is experiencing a profound disruption.”

Funding, “the peace bond”

For this innovation dynamic to fully bear fruit, access to financing becomes a central issue.
Specialized funds such as Audacia Defense & Sovereignty, launched to support SMEs and start-ups in the Defence Industrial and Technology Base (BITD), are directly involved in this investment effort.

“Their proliferation is an opportunity: it multiplies technological avenues and accelerates innovation.”

Audacia is fully in line with this vision of a sovereign and innovative Europe, where collaboration between industrial, financial and military actors becomes the driving force for a modern, agile and credible deterrence.