If you thought the US was the only one in NATO speedrunning defense reforms, think again.
This week, the UK and Germany both introduced programs to fast-track military modernization. On the UK side, the Brits showcased their new digital targeting system called ASGARD, while the German parliament passed the “Bundeswehrbeschaffungsbeschleunigungsgesetz” to accelerate weapons procurement. Yes, that is the name of the bill.
ASGARD: Tapping into some Norse mythology (or Marvel), ASGARD—short for Autonomous Strike Guidance and Reconnaissance Device—was first announced in October 2024.
The idea was to “deliver a tenfold increase in lethality over the next ten years” by integrating “surveillance technology, autonomy, digital connectivity, and data” in rapid targeting, long-range precision strikes, and decision support for personnel. And to speed things up, the Ministry of Defence said it would use a “novel acquisition approach” to get ASGARD fielded.
Fast forward a few months, and it’s already been prototyped and tested during NATO’s Exercise Hedgehog in Estonia.
- The system is inspired by Ukraine’s Kropyva, a widely used battlefield command system that utilizes high-speed targeting networks against Russian forces.
- Anduril and Helsing pitched in on the project, which uses Anduril’s Lattice-powered Edge Data Mesh and Helsing’s Altra recce-strike software and HX-2 strike drone system, which got its own ASGARD hype video.
- They’re hoping to build on it to introduce a full military-wide “Digital Targeting Web” by 2027, setting aside more than £1B to get it done.
So far, the MoD seems pretty pleased. During its grand reveal to allies and the defense industry in London this week, Chief of the General Staff Gen. Roly Walker said, “ASGARD helps double our lethality and exponentially reduces the time to see, decide, and strike. What took hours, now takes minutes.” He called it a “transformation in how we find, fund, and fight with cutting-edge capabilities.”
German efficiency: The Brits aren’t the only ones on the continent shaking things up.
Amid delays to big programs—especially frigates and armored vehicles—and complaints from Defense Minister Boris Pistorius about the country’s infamous bureaucracy scuttling rearmament plans, German lawmakers this week passed the 43-letter-long Bundeswehrbeschaffungsbeschleunigungsgesetz, or the Bundeswehr Procurement Acceleration Act. Say that ten times fast.
The bill speeds up the contracting process for major defense companies and opens up more access for startups, especially those in the drone business. We can think of one very happy German company that checks all those boxes and is probably (Hel)singing the bill’s praises. Combined with Helsing’s work on the UK’s ASGARD, it’s been a good week for Germany’s defense darling.
The law also simplifies cooperative defense procurement with EU member states, a big part of the European Commission’s ReArm Europe plan, and classifies software as military equipment. However, the law is set to expire at the end of 2026, giving Germany a tight window to prove it can outpace its own bureaucracy. Not saying the bill’s name out loud too often should help.