From standards to sovereignity

From Standards to Sovereignty: Why Open Architectures Like SAPIENT Are Critical for European Defence Strategy

The geopolitical landscape has shifted dramatically. As highlighted in recent strategic analyses, we have moved from an era of asymmetric conflicts to one of great power competition and high-intensity warfare. In this volatile environment, defined by hybrid threats and the race for technological superiority, the ability to integrate sensors and effectors rapidly is no longer just a technical convenience—it is a strategic imperative for national security and European autonomy.

While we often discuss SAPIENT (Sensing for Asset Protection with Integrated Electronic Networked Technology) in terms of API calls and Protobuf schemas, it represents something much larger: a paradigm shift towards Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) and industrial agility.

Here is how the technical reality of integrating standards like SAPIENT aligns with the macro-trends shaping the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB).

1. Solving the "Tower of Babel" in a Hyper-Connected Battlefield

The modern battlefield is transparent and hyper-connected. As noted in the Spanish Defence Technology and Innovation Strategy (ETID 2020), the goal is "Information Superiority" and the ability to process data from multiple sensors to support decision-making.

However, traditional defense procurement has often led to fragmented systems—"walled gardens" where a radar from Vendor A cannot talk to a jammer from Vendor B. SAPIENT solves this by standardizing the interface between Autonomous Sensor Modules (ASM) and Decision Making Modules (DMM).

By moving processing to the edge (Edge Computing) and transmitting high-level "detections" rather than raw, bandwidth-intensive data, we align with the operational need to operate in contested electromagnetic environments where bandwidth is scarce.

2. Strategic Autonomy through Modular Architectures

The European Defence Industrial Strategy (EDIS) and Spain’s Defence Industrial Strategy 2023 emphasize a clear goal: to increase strategic autonomy and reduce dependence on third parties.

Adopting open standards like SAPIENT supports this by:

• Breaking Vendor Lock-in: It allows Ministries of Defence to mix and match the best sensors from different European SMEs without rewriting the entire Command and Control (C2) software.

• Boosting SMEs: As highlighted by AESMIDE and TEDAE, SMEs are vital for innovation but face barriers to entry. An open standard allows a specialized SME developing a niche acoustic sensor to plug directly into a major system (such as the FCAS or the Dragon 8x8) without needing to build the entire C2 infrastructure.

3. The Role of AI and Ethical Responsibility

SAPIENT relies heavily on the Decision Making Module (DMM) to autonomously fuse data and task sensors. This directly supports the ETID 2020 priority of developing "Artificial Intelligence for decision support".

However, this brings us to the critical challenge of Governance and Ethics. As outlined in recent compliance discussions, the defense industry faces unique ethical challenges regarding the "human-in-the-loop". While SAPIENT facilitates autonomy, the ultimate decision to engage (the effector loop) must align with strict Rules of Engagement (ROE). Integrating these standards requires not just code, but a "Compliance by Design" approach to ensure that autonomous tasking does not cross ethical red lines.

4. Funding the Integration: Utilizing European Instruments

For developers and integrators looking to adopt these standards, the financial landscape has never been more supportive. The European Defence Fund (EDF) and the Act in Support of Ammunition Production (ASAP) are actively funding projects that enhance interoperability and cross-border cooperation.

Projects that demonstrate standardisation (like SAPIENT) are better positioned to receive backing because they contribute to the "Europeanization" of the supply chain, a key metric for the European Commission. Furthermore, initiatives such as DIANA (NATO) are specifically seeking dual-use technologies that can integrate with these open architectures.

Conclusion: It’s Time to Build the "Brain"

Integrating SAPIENT is not a turnkey solution; it is a construction kit. The standard provides the language (Protobuf) and the taxonomy, but it is up to the industry to build the "eyes" (smart sensors with edge processing) and the "brain" (advanced DMMs).

By adopting these standards, we are not just writing better software; we are building a resilient, interoperable, and sovereign defense capability that can meet the challenges of the 2030 horizon.

This post draws on the SAPIENT Interface Control Document v7, the Spanish Defence Industrial Strategy 2023, and the European Commission’s White Paper for European Defence – Readiness 2030.