British soldiers have successfully tested a new digital targeting web called Asgard while deployed on NATO’s eastern flank, marking a significant advance in military technology. The system, which uses AI and communications to enhance rapid targeting and decision-making, allows personnel to locate and hit enemy targets at far greater distances. This innovation is part of the Army’s broader strategy to increase its lethality tenfold within the next decade, drawing lessons from the conflict in Ukraine.
Defence Procurement Minister Maria Eagle underscored the importance of the project, stating, “We are learning the lessons from Ukraine so our frontline personnel can strike further and faster and maintain advantage over our adversaries.” She added that Asgard exemplifies the vision of the Strategic Defence Review, combining military, government, and industry expertise to achieve rapid frontline delivery.
General Sir Roly Walker, the Chief of the General Staff, described Asgard as a transformation in how the military finds, funds, and fights with cutting-edge capabilities. “Asgard helps double our lethality and exponentially reduces the time to see, decide, and strike,” he noted. “What took hours, now takes minutes.”
The technology was first announced by Defence Secretary John Healey in October 2024, with contracts awarded in January this year. The prototype was delivered to soldiers on NATO’s Exercise Hedgehog in Estonia just four months later. The Strategic Defence Review, published in June, emphasised a shift towards greater use of autonomy and AI within the Armed Forces.
Asgard is part of a wider programme to create a comprehensive digital targeting web across the UK’s Armed Forces by 2027, backed by £1bn in funding. The system is already operational in Estonia, where it supports the Forward Land Forces. Looking ahead, Asgard will focus on improving lethality at corps and divisional levels.
In a demonstration of Asgard’s capabilities, a defence company showcased how the technology works in practice by linking an HX-2 AI-enabled drone with Helsing’s Altra targeting software. This integration enabled the uncrewed vehicle to detect and launch attacks at unprecedented speeds. British engineers developed the intellectual property for the production, use, and export of this technology.
General Sir Roly Walker highlighted the importance of collaboration between tacticians and technicians, stating, “Together we must now scale and share it to multiply NATO’s fighting power and deterrence on its eastern flank.” This development not only enhances the UK’s military capabilities but also strengthens NATO’s collective security against evolving threats.
The successful deployment of Asgard underscores the UK’s commitment to leveraging AI and autonomous systems to maintain a strategic edge. As the technology continues to evolve, it will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of military operations and reinforcing NATO’s defensive posture.
