TAUFKIRCHEN, Germany, May 19, 2026 – HENSOLDT and IBM Germany signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop selected software functions for HENSOLDT’s MDOcore suite, targeting software-defined defense architectures for military operations. The work will cover battlefield sensor data, weapon-system connectivity, AI-supported analysis and national sovereignty requirements in software development.
MDOcore connects weapon systems and sensors through software and consolidates sensitive military data from different systems. The suite supports data fusion and operational coordination by shifting the focus from individual military platforms to interconnected systems across domains, data spaces and software architectures.
MDOcore manages unstructured and distributed sensor data from the military edge, including sensors and weapon systems, through battlefield fog data centers and secure multi-cloud data centers. It uses semantic technologies and AI-supported analysis to identify patterns and anomalies in heterogeneous and distributed databases for military and intelligence applications. MDOcore can run as Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) in a security-certified cloud and as an on-premises installation at a customer site.
IBM Germany will contribute its technological expertise in multi-tenant data platforms and management, sovereign and trustworthy AI, automation and software engineering. The proposed collaboration includes IBM watsonx and Automation Platforms, along with IBM Consulting assets from the military sector. These technologies will support module integration, multi-tenant cross-module data flow, data consolidation, analysis and user-oriented data delivery, while reducing development risk where security-compliant technologies already exist.
“Software-Defined Defence requires powerful software and data architectures that can be flexibly integrated into complex and sovereign defense systems,” says Sven Heursch, chief digital officer (CDO) at HENSOLDT. “With technology experts such as IBM Germany, we can draw on established technologies and comprehensive software expertise whilst taking sovereignty requirements into account, thereby accelerating the development of key components of MDOcore. At the same time, as a systems integrator, we retain full architectural, integration and data sovereignty.”
“For IBM, the sovereign, trustworthy and resilient design of a Software-Defined Defence platform is a key guiding principle. The planned collaboration with HENSOLDT allows us to uniquely combine proven standard software and our military-proven IT assets with HENSOLDT’s exceptional sensor and systems expertise. Through this deep, cross-domain data integration, MDOcore realizes its full potential and becomes a key enabler for information-based mission command,” adds Wolfgang Wendt, chairman of the management board of IBM Deutschland GmbH and general manager of IBM Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Source: HENSOLDT
About HENSOLDT
Hensoldt AG is a German defense electronics and sensor technology company founded in 2017. It develops radar, optoelectronic, avionics and electronic warfare systems for defense, security and aerospace customers worldwide, including military, government and civil agencies. The company builds and integrates systems used for protection, surveillance and situational awareness across air, land, sea and space domains. Hensoldt also provides lifecycle services, training and simulation tools for its equipment. The company operates production sites in Germany, France, the UK and South Africa, with sales offices supporting global markets. Hensoldt is headquartered in Munich, Germany. It employs about 9,000 people worldwide. Hensoldt works across defense, aerospace and security sectors and supplies systems for military platforms, radar networks and sensor applications. The company traces its origins to former Airbus Defense and Space sensor operations before its spin-off. Hensoldt’s products and services support armed forces, government agencies and allied defense programs.