Cybernetica has been actively involved in advancing the cybersecurity of combat vehicles since the first FAMOUS project kicked off back in 2021. As part of the European Defence Industrial Development Programme’s (EDIDP) Ground Combat Capabilities category, the FAMOUS project received €9 million in funding to support the development and modernisation of armoured platforms capable of operating in diverse climates and challenging terrains. Led by the Finnish defence technology company Patria, the FAMOUS project is a collaborative endeavour that brings together 19 leading defence companies from nine EU member states, with each partner contributing unique expertise.
Cybernetica’s role within the FAMOUS project is essential, focusing on enhancing the cybersecurity of the mission system and other digital components. Recognised for over 25 years of Secure-by-Design system development, Cybernetica is working to safeguard the digital backbone of armoured vehicles, ensuring robust security protocols are embedded at the core of these systems. By implementing advanced cybersecurity measures, Cybernetica aims to protect sensitive mission-critical data and facilitate secure interoperability across multiple platforms in real time. Cybernetica's Chief Scientific Officer Dan Bogdanov highlights that "the FAMOUS1 and FAMOUS2 projects allow us to increase the cybersecurity capabilities of European defence technologies".
In December 2022, the FAMOUS project expanded into its second phase, FAMOUS2, receiving an additional €95 million in funding from the European Commission. This phase will concentrate on vehicle design, prototyping, and rigorous testing, ensuring the next generation of armoured systems is both combat-ready and secure. Cybernetica’s role in FAMOUS2 is to develop a cybersecurity management system for next generation armoured vehicles. Such a system aims to enhance cyber situational awareness and increase resilience against cyber threats in fleet and vehicle management.
Following continuous success with FAMOUS, Cybernetica is now an integral member of the consortium for iMUGS2, the follow-up to the initial Integrated Modular Unmanned Ground System (iMUGS) project. Led by Milrem Robotics, iMUGS2 has expanded to include 29 partners from 15 EU member states, all committed to advancing the development of multipurpose unmanned ground systems (UGS) that meet the complex demands of modern military environments.
The first iMUGS project, which concluded in 2023, laid the foundation for European UGS technology by establishing an open System-of-Systems (SoS) architecture that enhanced autonomy, interoperability, and command-and-control capabilities. The iMUGS2 initiative builds on these advancements, aiming to transition experimental UGS technologies into cost-effective, deployable solutions that will be ready for national procurement by 2030. Recently, the consortium submitted its proposal for European Defence Fund’s call to develop next-generation Multipurpose UGS.
As defence capabilities across Europe evolve, the role of cybersecurity becomes increasingly vital in protecting critical infrastructure and ensuring secure interoperability. Cybernetica’s continued involvement in these landmark defence projects reaffirms its position as a leader in cybersecurity within the European defence landscape, enabling the development of secure, state-of-the-art technology solutions that enhance Europe’s defence capabilities.
"By leveraging the outcomes of iMUGS, the iMUGS2 project represents a significant leap forward in developing and fielding advanced, cost-effective and combat-ready autonomous ground systems," said Raul Rikk, Capability Development Director at Milrem Robotics, the consortium lead. "Our goal is to enhance European defence capabilities and develop solutions that are ready for procurement and integration by 2030," Rikk added.