Entering the digital battlefield with MDOcore: HENSOLDT launches software offensive

“Data is as important as ammunition on the battlefield,” said HENSOLDT CEO Oliver Dörre. “With MDOcore, we are creating a key capability for networked data fusion and analysis – independent of non-European platforms. In this way, we are securing sovereignty over our own mission data and making a decisive contribution to technological sovereignty.”

The software suite was developed based on current operational experience and follows the principles of software-centred defence. MDOcore can update or expand software modules during operation – for example, when new threats are detected. This allows adjustments to be implemented quickly, including short-term updates during deployment. The system thus supports agile capability development, as required by modern military scenarios. An initial functional prototype with multi-domain data fusion and AI-supported evaluation has already been successfully tested.

MDOcore acts as a “universal translator” within complex defence networks. The software suite enables different systems – such as a German radar, a French air defence battery and an American command or weapon delivery system – to communicate seamlessly with each other and exchange data in real time.

Thanks to its open, modular system architecture, MDOcore is compatible with the reference architectures of state-of-the-art defence programmes and uses established software standards. This keeps the system flexible and scalable and prevents dependencies on individual providers.

MDOcore is designed to be intuitive to use: users can interact with the sensor-based network via voice input or text commands. The system provides precise, context-related information that goes far beyond a classic situation picture. MDOcore is already designed for future technologies. The architecture is prepared for cloud integration, swarm operations and, in the future, quantum computing. This means that the software suite is ready for the demands of tomorrow's battlefield.

Sven Heursch, Head of Software-Defined Defence & Digitalisation at HENSOLDT, said: “MDOcore is more than a software suite – it is the foundation of a new way of thinking in defence technology. By decoupling hardware, software, data and algorithms, we are creating a modular architecture that is interoperable, scalable and future-proof. This creates a sovereign European defence infrastructure while strengthening long-term system capability.”

With MDOcore, HENSOLDT is taking the next technological leap: from sensor provider to supplier of real-time, data-centric defence architectures. Combining existing expertise with data-driven analysis capabilities creates a new quality of digital battlefield intelligence.