News and insights from BATTLEPAD

A productive project workshop in Ljubljana has brought the BATTLEPAD consortium a step closer to its next milestones, reinforcing the collaborative momentum behind one of Europe’s emerging defence technology initiatives.

Hosted as part of the ongoing BATTLEPAD project, the workshop brought together MUSE Electronics, MIL Sistemika, and Orqa FPV to review progress made so far, align on the work ahead, and map out the concrete steps needed to keep the project on track. For a consortium spanning three specialized companies and multiple technical disciplines, this kind of in-person coordination is essential — it’s where roadmaps get tested against reality and where the pieces of a complex, multinational effort come together.

A Project Built on Complementary Expertise

BATTLEPAD is a European Defence Fund (EDF)-backed initiative focused on advancing next-generation situational awareness and field-level operational capability. Its ambition is to help military units perceive, communicate, and act more effectively in fast-moving, high-pressure environments — and to do so through genuinely joint European innovation rather than any single company working in isolation.

Each partner brings a distinct piece of that puzzle:

• MUSE Electronics contributes deep hardware engineering expertise, focusing on the robust electronics integration and system reliability that form the physical backbone of the BATTLEPAD platform.
• MIL Sistemika brings its strength in mission-critical software, data processing, and tactical communications, helping ensure the system’s capabilities are intuitive and operationally effective for end users.
• Orqa FPV adds its globally recognized experience in advanced vision systems and real-time video, shaping the user-centric interface that keeps operators informed and connected.

Together, these capabilities point toward a shared goal: secure, edge-capable, field-ready devices built for the realities of modern operations — where digital and physical threats increasingly overlap, and where conventional, off-the-shelf technology no longer meets the bar.

Enjoying a lunch break in Ljubljana // MUSE Electronics, Orqa and MIL Sistemika

Why the Ljubljana Workshop Mattered

Workshops like this one aren’t just status updates — they’re where a multinational project stays aligned. With partners working across different technical domains and, often, different countries, regular in-person sessions give the team a chance to:

• Review progress against the milestones set out earlier in the project
• Surface and resolve technical or coordination challenges before they become blockers
• Align on priorities for the upcoming phase of development
• Define concrete next steps, so every partner leaves with a clear sense of ownership

For a project still in its earlier stages, this kind of structured check-in is what keeps ambitious, forward-looking goals grounded in an achievable plan.

Project partners from MUSE Electronics, Orqa and MIL Sistemika

Looking Ahead

The Ljubljana workshop marks another step in a collaboration that MUSE Electronics, MIL Sistemika, and Orqa FPV expect will continue to deepen as BATTLEPAD moves from concept toward capability. As the project progresses, each partner’s specialized contribution — hardware, software, and imaging — will increasingly come together into a single, cohesive system.

More updates will follow as BATTLEPAD advances. For now, the consortium leaves Ljubljana with clear alignment on what comes next — and renewed momentum heading into the project’s next phase.

The development of secure, mission-critical technology demands rigorous planning and absolute precision. Complex hardware and software integration leaves zero room for ambiguity. Recently, the engineering and project management teams convened for the pivotal BATTLEPAD workshop to evaluate progress, eliminate structural uncertainties, and establish a definitive path forward.

This post details the outcomes of that strategic session. We will examine the finalisation of the hardware-software architecture requirements, the critical definition of system interfaces and team responsibilities, and the strategic objectives leading up to the next major project milestone scheduled for the coming up months.

Defining the Foundation: Hardware and Software Architecture

The primary objective of the workshop was to solidify the core technological framework of the BATTLEPAD system. Developing a device that can manage highly sensitive operational data requires a foundation that guarantees both performance and incorruptible security. During the session, the team successfully fixed all hardware and software architecture requirements.

Securing the Core Framework

Fixing the architecture requirements is a critical phase in the engineering lifecycle. It transitions the project from conceptual design into concrete development. By finalizing these parameters, the engineering teams now have a rigid blueprint that dictates exactly how the physical components will interact with the operating system and applications.

This blueprint ensures the physical separation of mission-critical information across different security domains. 

Achieving Milestone Stability

With the architecture firmly established, developers and engineers can confidently proceed, knowing the foundational system design is laid out. This reliability paves the way for efficient hardware procurement and precise software module development. As BATTLEPAD enters the conceptual phase, its clearly defined framework sets the stage for focused research and innovative development, promising a streamlined path toward realisation.

A new chapter in European defence innovation has begun with the launch of BATTLEPAD, a cutting-edge project funded under the European Defence Fund (EDF). Bringing together the expertise of three highly specialized companies — MUSE Electronics, Milsistemika, and ORQA — BATTLEPAD aims to push the boundaries of modern defence technology through close multinational collaboration.

What Is BATTLEPAD?

BATTLEPAD is designed as a forward-looking technological initiative focused on advancing next-generation situational awareness and field-level operational capability. Its mission is straightforward yet ambitious:
to explore and develop technologies that improve how units perceive, communicate, and act in dynamic operational environments.

While the project spans a range of research domains, its shared objective remains clear — to deliver meaningful technological progress that supports the European defence ecosystem.

Three Companies, One Vision

MUSE Electronics

Known for its deep engineering expertise, MUSE Electronics brings robust hardware design, electronics integration, and system reliability to the project. Their role centers on developing the physical technological backbone required for BATTLEPAD’s capabilities.

MIL Sistemika

A specialist in software and digital systems, Milsistemika contributes its strengths in mission-critical applications, data processing, and tactical communications. Their role is crucial to ensuring that BATTLEPAD’s capabilities are intuitive, seamless, and operationally effective.

ORQA

Recognized globally for its advanced vision systems and high-performance FPV technology, ORQA adds its unique knowledge in imaging, real-time video, and user-centric interface design. Their contribution supports the project’s aim of creating more informed and connected operators.

Why This Collaboration Matters

BATTLEPAD demonstrates the growing importance of collaborative innovation within Europe’s defence sector. By combining the strengths of three highly specialized companies, the project is able to tackle challenges that no single organization could address alone.

This partnership also highlights the EDA’s commitment to fostering cross-border cooperation, encouraging technological sovereignty, and supporting the development of solutions that enhance operational effectiveness and resilience.

Looking Ahead

The BATTLEPAD project is still in its early stages, but its collaborative spirit and forward-thinking approach set a promising foundation for what lies ahead. As MUSE Electronics, Milsistemika, and ORQA continue working together, their joint expertise has the potential to shape new standards for how technology supports modern defence operations.

More updates will follow as the project progresses — and as BATTLEPAD moves from concept to capability.

The landscape of modern conflict is undergoing a profound transformation. Kinetic warfare is now increasingly intertwined with digital aggression, where cyber-attacks are deployed as a standard component of military campaigns. This new reality places the integrity of classified information at significant risk, directly impacting the ability of armed forces to react swiftly and effectively to dynamic, hostile environments. To maintain a critical advantage, a new generation of powerful, secure digital tools for individual personnel is not just a preference—it is an urgent necessity.

A New Foundation for Military IT

The convergence of physical and digital warfare demands a fundamental rethinking of military technology. The increasing prevalence of cyber-attacks as a component of military strategy has exposed the vulnerabilities of conventional systems and highlighted the urgent need for the secure digitalization of armed forces. Simply adapting consumer technology is insufficient for the high-stakes environment of national defence.

The path forward lies in developing a new generation of military end-user devices built on a foundation of edge computing, secure connectivity, and guaranteed interoperability. These are not just technological enhancements; they are strategic imperatives for maintaining an advantage in 21st-century conflict. By providing personnel with powerful, secure, and flexible digital tools, we can empower them to operate with greater speed, precision, and safety, ensuring they are prepared for the challenges of today and tomorrow. Project BATTLEPAD aims to deliver that next-level capability, establishing a new standard for military IT.