Strategy Analytics, the provider of information and insights that support strategic planners in dynamic high technology markets, has joined hands with Defence IQ for the “Big Data for Defence Summit” that will be held from 26 to 28 June in London. The summit will take place in partnership with the UK MoD Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA).

The aim behind this partnership and summit is to bring together the military requirements and civilian capabilities necessary to build future proficiency in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and big data. According to a report by Strategic Analytics, AI and Big Data will soon be integral components of future defense procurement and support spending.  The report, named “Global Defence Spending Outlook 2016-2026,” also reveals that the global defense budget will draw near $2.41 trillion in 2026, with the opportunities presented to industry growing at a CAGR of 3.5 percent.

Talking about the future opportunities, Asif Anwar, ADS Director at Strategy Analytics, says, “AI and big data opportunities will span situational-awareness, remote-sensing, precision targeting, combat platform/system effectiveness, battlefield-maneuver, logistics, decision-making (command and control) and cybersecurity. The UK’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) is working on developing a big data platform, and also launched a challenge in 2017 to develop an automated system that will identify and classify vehicles from satellite imagery, while the UK’s Royal Navy is pursuing Project Nelson to exploit and enable developments in AI across the whole naval enterprise.”

The summit will witness the presence of Colonel Jerome Lemaire, Head of Digital Transformation of Defense Systems and Integration of AI Directorate General of Armaments, and French Ministry of the Armed Forces talking about maintaining cybersecurity in European Army structures. The event will also host Mario Blokken, Head Permanent Secretariat, European Center of Army Operability, who will sketch the challenges in protecting data, and the applications of AI platforms in the cyber domain.