Winning with Defence Tech

Rasmus Basilier

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Entrepreneurship

Supporting defence and dual use innovators with the knowledge they need to get their tech into the hands of the warfighter. We stay practical - learning about the battlefield, finding opportunities for validation, helping you progress in your path to empower the defence of the alliance.

5d ago

The way to truly rapid technology adoption

Why in NATO DIANA the most effective defence accelerator out there? What does it really offer and why should you apply? In this podcast episode, Jyoti Hirani-Driver, the Managing Director of DIANA provides insight into these questions and explains how the program is structured, to provide startups with a “fast track” towards technology adoption. In this podcast you will learn: How defence procurement can be accelerated: weeks instead of months or years Why getting into the right defence innovation programme matters: the value lies in access to important stakeholders, which DIANA offers How to move from “interesting technology” to “needed capability”: understanding the actual military problem iscritical Why real-world testing matters so much in defence: a pitch deck won’t gain end-users trust or interest How OPEX can create commercial opportunities: operational exercises can put innovators directlyin front of military users, industry and investors What a defence-focused accelerator actually provides: funding, mentoring, defence education, customerintroductions, technical validation and access to exercises Why defence startups need patience and persistence: the timeline in defence technology adoption differsfrom other industries Where the defence-tech ecosystem is heading: NATO DIANA combines acceleration, operational testing, procurement pathways, investment connections and ongoing support to help technologies move towards technology adoption
Oct 2

Whoever adapts AI faster, wins.

As military operations' reliance on AI increased, the protection of data centres, which keep it functional, became a critical matter. Data centres concentrated in one geographical area pose significant challenges to the security of missions, as such sites can be easily destroyed concurrently. Conversely, distributing them allows them to continue operating even when one „node” is down. Gregory Brook from Bastogne AI explains how using ships plays a crucial role in achieving the above goal and how AI evolves in the defence sector. In this podcast, you will also learn: 1. Why an ordinary MacBook can outperform decades-old military platforms in raw computing capability. 2. Why AI cannot simply live in a distant data centre. 3. What “edge AI” really means in a military context. 4. Why and how distributed computing can make military systems more resilient. 5. Why military AI hardware has different requirements from commercial AI hardware. 6. How AI could change the scale of drone operations. 7. Why Ukraine's experience is so important for defence innovation.
Sep 23

The cure for conference allergy w. Leslie Hitchcock from Resilience Media

What is being done to make a conference not suck? How does the Resilience Conference and London Defence Tech Week address it? Why should you go to London Defence Tech Week?
Jun 2

Understanding drone warfare today w. Kyrylo Martyniuk

Kyrylo Martyniuk and Rasmus Basilier discuss the realities of drone warfare in Ukraine, based on his recent time on the front lines and work in defense technology. They explore how Ukrainian forces use video interceptors to see the same feed as Russian drone pilots, the practical tactics for surviving FPV and fiber optic drone attacks while driving, and the trade-offs between shotguns and rifles for anti-drone defense. Kyrylo shares what actually works in the field — from high-speed evasion to knowing when to abandon a vehicle. The conversation also covers broader developments in the Ukrainian army: recent reforms, the growing role of unmanned ground vehicles, AI-assisted targeting and interception systems, and the push toward greater robotization of combat tasks. Kyrylo explains the current limitations and future potential of fiber optic drones, why they remain difficult to counter, and the engineering challenges involved in making them more reliable. He discusses how Ukrainian units are developing their own solutions on the brigade level and what lessons could be applied elsewhere. They talk about the value of practical experience accumulated over years of adaptation, training programs for drone operators, and how European forces might better integrate real-world knowledge from Ukraine. A grounded, detailed look at modern warfare, technology, and the human decisions shaping the conflict. Listen to understand the tactical and technical realities that define the fighting in Ukraine today. Kyrylo's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyrylo-martyniuk-5b223a2a5/ Rasmus' Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rasmusbasilier/
May 22

Someone is planning to break your defence product - can you find it out first? w. Gregory Letare

He is a senior officer in the Swiss army’s drone and robotic division, red teaming specialist, and founder of a company focused on transformation capabilities and wargaming in defense tech. Gregory explains how he stress-tests military technology by asking one core question: “How can the enemy defeat this?” Drawing on lessons from the war in Ukraine and modern drone warfare, he discusses why many defense startups and traditional forces face challenges when new technology meets real battlefield conditions. He outlines a practical methodology for red teaming and wargaming, the kill chain framework, and how to identify vulnerabilities in your product before deployment. You’ll learn: Why brute force thinking often falls short and the importance of considering the opponent’s perspectiveHow to role-play as the enemy using OSINT and structured scenariosThe difference between focused red teaming and large-scale wargamingWhy elements like camouflage and counter-UAS systems are increasingly criticalKey realities about how current conflicts are unfoldingThis conversation offers a clear framework for evaluating defense technology with intellectual honesty and strategic depth. Whether you work in defense tech, strategy, or are interested in the future of warfare, it provides useful insights into building more resilient solutions. Gregory shares practical experience from someone actively working in the field.
May 15

Persistant ISR is a lie w. Mathieu Parr from Marble

Persistent surveillance is no longer a future capability. It is becoming an operational necessity. In our latest podcast conversation with the team at Marble, we explored one of the biggest gaps in maritime and Arctic security: the lack of continuous situational awareness across critical infrastructure, sea lanes, and remote operating environments. Traditional systems can provide snapshots. Satellites pass overhead. Aircraft can be deployed when something happens. But neither creates true persistence. Marble is approaching the problem differently. By combining autonomous high speed drones with localized hangar infrastructure, their system is designed to deliver continuous coverage across vast maritime areas. The result is the ability to monitor up to 15,000 square kilometers per day while maintaining rapid response and autonomous redeployment. This is not just about drones. It is about rethinking how nations, operators, and organizations protect cables, coastlines, shipping routes, and critical assets in an increasingly contested environment. A fascinating discussion on defence innovation, autonomous systems, and the future of maritime surveillance.
May 9

How to Get Your Tech Adopted w. Krists Avots

Krists is an Entrepreneur in Residence at Unilab Defense — a NATO DIANA acceleration site — and the founder of a new defense tech startup building agentic soldier augmentation systems. He’s evaluated hundreds of defense startups and worked closely with both European innovation programs and Ukrainian forces on the frontline. In this conversation, we go deep into why brilliant technology often dies in the gap between the lab and the battlefield. Krists breaks down the massive mismatch between how civilian founders think and how military end-users actually operate. What You’ll Discover: - The single biggest reason most defense tech startups never get traction - How military buyers really think — long time horizons, risk, credibility, and why they still use 70s-80s era equipment - Why Ukraine has become the ultimate testing ground for modern warfare technology - Practical ways for founders to understand real Concept of Operations (CONOPS) and speak the military’s language - The brutal economics of defense tech: long sales cycles, iteration speed, capital requirements, and survivability - What’s coming next after drones — human-machine teaming, mass manufacturing, and the future battlefield - How to actually get access to real end-users in Europe and Ukraine If you’re building anything in defense, dual-use, deep tech, or government-adjacent spaces this episode is for you
Apr 21

Your drinking water is not as safe as you think w. Gregor Zupin

In this episode, Rasmus sits down with Gregor Zupin, founder of Microbium, to explore how modern militaries can solve one of their most persistent and dangerous challenges: ensuring access to safe drinking water during operations. When military units move into new areas, water sources — whether streams, springs, or building pipelines — are often contaminated with bacteria like E. coli or Legionella. These pathogens can’t be detected by smell, taste, or appearance, yet they can cause outbreaks that sideline soldiers within just 1–5 days. Gregor explains why the traditional lab-based testing process is too slow and impractical for fast-moving or forward-deployed forces: samples must be collected, shipped to external labs, cultured for days, and results communicated back — all while units are on the move. Microbium’s innovative MPN Analyzer changes this. It’s a compact, battery-powered “lab-in-a-box” that delivers lab-accurate results for total coliforms and E. coli in as little as 8 hours. No microbiologist required — any soldier can perform the test on-site. Gregor shares real-world insights from field trials with the NATO Center of Excellence for Mountain Warfare in the Alps, where scouts tested 60 water sources ahead of unit movement. Shockingly, several sources failed military and national safety standards, highlighting how common the risk truly is. The conversation also covers valuable feedback from the defense sector, upcoming product improvements (ruggedization, temperature control, and potential integrated disinfection), and how Microbium’s technology could extend beyond water testing to other microbiological challenges in the field. If you’re interested in defense innovation, force protection, or practical solutions for operational readiness, this episode is a must-listen. Key Topics: The hidden dangers of water contamination in military operationsWhy traditional lab testing fails in dynamic environmentsHow the MPN Analyzer enables rapid, on-site water quality testingReal results from NATO mountain warfare trialsFuture applications in disinfection and soldier healthCheck out Microbium and their groundbreaking work in making water testing fast, accurate, and field-ready. Gregor Zupin Experienced Chief Executive Officer with a demonstrated history of working in the field of industrial microbiology and sales. Skilled in Laboratory Devices, Entrepreneurship, Quality Assurance, Molecular Biology. Strong business development professional graduated from COTRUGLI Business School. https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregorzupin/

Supporting defence and dual use innovators with the knowledge they need to get their tech into the hands of the warfighter. We stay practical - learning about the battlefield, finding opportunities for validation, helping you progress in your path to empower the defence of the alliance.

Creator

Rasmus Basilier
Years Active

2025 - 2026
Episodes

19
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© Rasmus Basilier
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Winning with Defence Tech

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