Patria and NestAI link AI with European drone systems

Patria and NestAI have entered a technology partnership to bring adaptive artificial intelligence, or AI, capabilities to unmanned systems for European defence forces.

According to a press release from the Finnish defence contractor, the partnership will pair Patria’s unmanned aerial systems with NestAI’s NestOS adaptive operating system, combining AI-enabled software with a defence platform in a single system.

- Our unmanned systems are built for the most demanding conditions in Europe. With NestAI’s AI capabilities, we can make them more intelligent and more effective for the operators who depend on them, said Panu Routila, president and chief executive of Patria.

European armed forces are increasing investment in unmanned systems. In contemporary warfare, equipping those systems to operate in contested and fast-changing environments requires AI designed for real-world conditions.

The companies said the partnership would bring that capability from within Europe’s industrial and technology base, combining Patria’s drone platform, operational reach and expertise in unmanned systems with NestAI’s adaptive intelligence capabilities and open, modular operating system for modern battlefield operations.

Peter Sarlin, founder and chairman of NestAI, said European defence needed AI for modern battlefield operations that is adaptive, sovereign and able to evolve after deployment. He added that such capability needed to be built in Europe, by Europeans, for European operational requirements.

- This partnership combines Patria’s experience in unmanned aerial systems and the adaptive AI capabilities of NestOS to deliver for the modern battlefield, Sarlin said.