In a rapidly evolving strategic environment, stakeholders in Defense, Security, and Space must confront unprecedented challenges. Information overload, the rise of drones, digital sovereignty, space defense, and trusted AI: our 2026 trend report deciphers the transformations that are reshaping these critical sectors for the long term.
Recent conflicts have highlighted a new reality: technological superiority no longer depends solely on the power of equipment, but on the ability to process information, coordinate systems, and act faster than the adversary.
In this new context, organizations must contend with threats that are more diffuse, more hybrid, and faster. They must be able to anticipate, cope with the saturation of operational environments, accelerate decision-making through data, and strengthen both their strategic autonomy and industrial resilience.
To shed light on these challenges and help European organizations better anticipate ongoing transformations, CS and Sopra Steria Next have combined their expertise in this 2026 trend report.
This work highlights ten major developments that are reshaping the balance of Defense, Security, and Space, through the contributions and analyses of our experts in these fields:
✔ Winning the war before the war: acting in the information domain
Information has become a battlespace. States must counter disinformation, influence operations and cognitive warfare to protect decision-making, public trust and operational freedom.
✔ Strengthening air defence through counter-drone measures
The proliferation of low-cost drones is reshaping warfare. Effective detection, tracking and neutralization capabilities are now essential to protect forces and critical infrastructure.
✔ Providing Europe with a space defence capability
As space becomes increasingly contested, Europe must protect its orbital assets, secure access to space-based services and strengthen its strategic autonomy.
✔ Orchestrating multi-domain military action
Future operations depend on the ability to connect sensors, systems and forces across land, sea, air, cyber and space to accelerate decision-making and deliver coordinated effects.
✔ Building sovereign, secure and trustworthy defence AI
AI is becoming a decisive military enabler. Europe must develop sovereign, explainable and secure AI systems that can be trusted in critical operational environments.
✔ Sharing and utilising data in operations
Data superiority is critical to operational superiority. Secure data sharing and exploitation enable faster decisions, greater interoperability and more effective missions.
✔ Moving from exploration to action with quantum
Quantum technologies are moving from research to operational applications, offering new opportunities in sensing, communications, optimization and cybersecurity.
✔ Restoring strategic depth
High-intensity conflicts have highlighted the need for resilient supply chains, industrial capacity, stockpiles and the ability to sustain military efforts over time.
✔ Integrating drones into combat at scale
Drones are becoming ubiquitous on the battlefield. Military forces must learn to deploy, coordinate and sustain them at scale as part of combined-arms operations.
✔ Structuring new defence innovation models
The pace of technological change requires new approaches that connect armed forces, industry, startups and investors to accelerate innovation and capability delivery.
