In a strategic shift from hardware provider to digital architect, German defence pioneer Hensoldt has launched MDOcore, a foundational software suite designed to become the nervous system of future allied forces. This launch marks a decisive push for European technological sovereignty in an era where data is now battlefield currency.
“MDOcore is more than software; it’s the cornerstone of a new defence paradigm,” stated Sven Heursch, Hensoldt’s Head of Software-Defined Defence. The system acts as a “universal translator,” bridging the gap between disparate NATO and allied systems—allowing a German radar, a French artillery unit, and an American fighter jet to share a single, real-time operational picture for the first time.
The core promise is radical acceleration. By enabling seamless, cross-domain data fusion from sensors to shooters, MDOcore aims to collapse the “kill chain,” transforming it into a near-instantaneous “sensor-to-effector” loop. This is powered by an open, modular architecture that decouples software from hardware, allowing for AI-powered analytics and software updates to be pushed even during active missions to counter emerging threats.
Critically, Hensoldt emphasises MDOcore as a sovereign European solution. “We are securing sovereignty over our own mission data,” said CEO Oliver Dörre, highlighting independence from non-European tech platforms. The system is designed to integrate with existing NATO reference architectures while preventing vendor lock-in, creating a flexible, scalable backbone for a collaborative defence infrastructure.
Already tested in prototypes demonstrating AI-supported data fusion, MDOcore is built for tomorrow’s challenges. Its architecture is prepped for cloud integration, drone swarm coordination, and even future quantum computing. With an intuitive interface operable by voice command, it aims to provide commanders with predictive insights far beyond a simple map display.
With MDOcore, Hensoldt is not just selling a tool but forging a new digital battlefield reality—one defined by interoperable alliances, data supremacy, and agile, software-defined warfare.
