Metrology is the hidden enabler of faster defense innovation

Recent geopolitical turbulence has significantly increased the pressure on improving efficiency and agility in developing and adopting new technologies for military use. Ukraine war has demonstrated how powerful and fast development can be achieved by transforming technology solutions developed for civilian markets to military use. Instead of a 10+ years innovation cycle in the traditional defense sector, the New Defense approach delivers new technologies to military use in months. Dual-use technology companies drive technology development and provide agility to quick adaptation, scaling and delivery. 

The national metrology infrastructures support the operational capability of defense forces through their calibration services. Also, the manufacturing of defense equipment relies on the measurement quality provided by metrology. New Defense requires efficient metrology support for dual use innovation and an infrastructure that enables fast adaptation for new technologies when a crisis hits. 

When comparing technology solutions for military and civilian use, civilian equipment is usually optimized for cost and efficiency, whereas military equipment is optimized for reliability, resilience, security, and operation under extreme conditions. The technical performance may be similar, but the assurance requirements are often significantly higher for military applications. For example, a civilian GPS receiver may stop functioning if signals are weak, but a military navigation system must continue operating even if GPS signal is lost. Civilian products do not usually have to withstand shocks from explosions or harsh conditions with dust, vibrations etc. New Defense has a focus on transforming civilian innovations efficiently to military grade products. It also brings a new category of technology products into military use where significantly larger waste is accepted and designed in the operation. High volume production associated with low cost compensates for the losses due to lower grade endurance. 

Many dual-use innovations that can be adapted for defense applications are based on advanced measurement, precise time synchronisation and sensor-driven technologies. Metrology is a key enabler across all of these fields.

Dual use innovations for unmanned vehicles encompass measurement sensors and sensor networks of different kinds and navigation solutions that are dependent on time synchronization. Developments in quantum technology do not only provide prospects for data analysis, communication and cryptography with enormous efficiency but also quantum sensors that enable e.g. detection of hidden submarines and underground tunnels and navigation in GPS-denied environment. Many civilian innovations in space technology can be directly exploited in defense applications to improve situational awareness capabilities. These include e.g. improved atomic clocks for time synchronization and hyperspectral cameras for remote sensing of different kinds of targets and areas on earth. 

The metrology community is a forerunner in developing new atomic clocks. VTT MIKES has developed one of the best clocks in the world and is developing solutions for time synchronisation via optical fibre links. Nordic metrology institutes are investigating distribution of time signal with very high accuracy in fibre optic networks. With these capabilities, VTT MIKES is well positioned to support dual use developments aimed at applications with most demanding requirements for time synchronisation.

In quantum technology, metrology has an important role. In Europe, VTT provides quite a unique setting for this: we have quantum-based SI unit realisations and we have in-house microelectronics development capabilities with clean room facilities, data analysis competences and an expanding technology ecosystem. VTT is developing future technologies for quantum sensing and quantum communication. 

AI powered sensor networks provide many opportunities for dual use innovations because they often rely on lots of low-cost sensors in generating data with a quality far better than if a single sensor was used. You can also monitor events or phenomena that cannot be measured reliably with traditional sensing systems. VTT MIKES develops methods for controlling and improving quality of measurements in such applications. This supports industry to bring civilian sensor network products to military domain.

Dual use innovation approach provides efficiency in terms of cost and pace. It supports the development of both civilian and defense industry. Ukraine war has well demonstrated that open and innovative mindset and fast adaptation are key for achieving technology advantage when a military crisis bursts. A metrology infrastructure that provides services that match with present technologies and create new measurement and calibration methods and services for new types of equipment enables fast adaptation from manufacturing to delivery. To maintain this capability at VTT MIKES, we constantly develop our scientific and technological competences in international research collaboration focusing on quantum, smart grids, time synchronization, advanced manufacturing and complex measurement systems.