Battlefield dominance will belong to the side that owns the operating layer – opinion

The next major competition in defense technology will focus on the digital operating system that connects battlefield platforms, rather than just the visible hardware. This operating system integrates sensors, shooters, AI, and data into an adaptive ecosystem, with its value measured by the speed of operational learning. Ukraine exemplifies this shift, utilizing AI for drone operations and combat planning, with Danylo Tsvok of Ukraine's Defense AI Center stating, "advantage will go to the system that holds more data, understands it better and can propose operational solutions faster." The U.S. Army is also developing a common data layer for its Next Generation Command and Control initiative, emphasizing common data, software deployment, and edge connectivity.

• For investors, this means the operating layer can become a platform, increasing in value with every connected sensor and software update.
• Israel, with its operational experience and defense-tech ecosystem, is already moving in this direction, as seen with the IDF's Alumot unit and companies like Kela.
• The article stresses the need for Israel to convert its wartime creativity into durable architecture, emphasizing common interfaces, data standards, and cybersecurity rules.
• Procurement systems must adapt to continuous software updates and close collaboration between users and developers, while governance must ensure traceability and human accountability as AI integrates into command-and-control.

Israel should treat the battlefield operating layer as a strategic national capability, fostering open architectures and secure data foundations to avoid others defining the integration layer for its defense platforms.