The Digital Silk Road (DSR) is part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) that encompasses infrastructure projects, trade and financial agreements, and cultural and defence cooperation with over 140 countries worldwide. Bringing the digital component into the BRI seamlessly advanced Beijing’s ambition of taking a leadership position in the technology sector.
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Robotic platforms, artificial intelligence, and weapons with autonomous functions have become central to defence innovation. Major powers rely on emerging technologies to achieve and maintain strategic advantages over their potential adversaries. Yet more developed AI-based solutions produce not only more sophisticated technologies but also a not-less-sophisticated set of problems.
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Russia is investing in the development of a variety of hypersonic delivery systems. These can travel to targets at five or more times the speed of sound, elude defences by evasive manoeuvring, and deliver munitions with great precision.
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There is a lot of action around emerging disruptive technologies (EDT) in Brussels these days. Both EU and NATO are already running or are about to start new funding instruments.
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Notwithstanding the geographical distance separating Italy from the Arctic, Italy has gained a relevant position in the Arctic debate, mainly thanks to its scientific efforts and investments in the region. Estonia, on the other end, is very much closer to the region, being surrounded by Arctic states, and is currently seeking to strengthen its involvement in Arctic matters.
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Piret Pernik was quoted in a Dutch online newspaper. She said that the Estonian success in digitization is based on the users trust into safety and security of public and private e-services.
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On 8-9 December, the Baltic Defence College (BALTDEFCOL) and the Lithuanian Ministry of National Defence organised in Vilnius the 2nd Baltic Defence Innovation Conference – a regional forum launched in 2013 by the ICDS in close cooperation with the Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian defence ministries as well as BALTDEFCOL.
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ICDS Research Fellow and Head of Studies, Tomas Jermalavičius, has become a member of Ares (Armament Industry European Research) group – a new cross-border think-tank launched in early 2016 with the aim of encouraging fresh strategic thinking, developing innovative policy proposals and conducting studies for public and private stakeholders in the European defence industry and technology community.
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On 1-5 February, Lockheed Martin’s Center for Innovation in Suffolk (Virginia, USA) hosted the wargame event of the missile defence experimentation campaign “Nimble Titan 2016”, which brought together policymakers and military practitioners from 22 nations to explore various aspects of employing global and regional integrated air and missile defence capabilities.
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On 22 January, ICDS Research Fellow Tomas Jermalavičius delivered a lecture to the members of the Higher Command Studies Course of the Baltic Defence College on technology and security.
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