NATO has taken a significant step toward modernizing its military capabilities by acquiring the Maven Smart System NATO (MSS NATO), a new artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled platform developed by Palantir Technologies Inc.
The acquisition, completed within six months of identifying the requirement, reflects NATO’s intent to retain its technological edge in a rapidly evolving security environment.
Ludwig Decamps, General Manager of the NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA), said the system marks a strategic shift in how NATO prepares its forces to respond to emerging threats.
“NCIA is pleased to team up with Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) and Palantir to deliver MSS NATO to the Warfighter, providing customized state-of-the-art AI capabilities to the Alliance, and empowering our forces with the tools required on the modern battlefield to operate effectively and decisively,” Decamps said.
Developed through close coordination between NCIA, SHAPE, and Palantir, the MSS NATO platform delivers a next-generation digital infrastructure tailored for modern military operations.
As an integrated command-and-control system, it uses machine learning models and data analytics to support intelligence fusion, enhance situational awareness, improve operational planning, and accelerate decision-making.
What The System Does
MSS NATO is designed to strengthen NATO’s command and control functions by helping military leaders make quicker, better-informed decisions. It collects and processes data from multiple sources to offer real-time insights and predictive assessments, improving battlefield awareness, targeting, and coordination.
At its core, the system integrates structured and unstructured data from both classified and open sources. Its data analysis tools generate actionable intelligence to support decision-making. This enables commanders to make timely and strategic decisions based on a comprehensive view of the operational environment.
The MSS platform builds on the U.S. military’s XMSS system, which has become a standard tool for planners across the Joint Staff, theater commands, and the Pentagon’s Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office (CDAO). In 2024, the CDAO awarded contracts worth over US$500 million to expand the system’s use across the Department of Defense, from hundreds of users to thousands.
Originally created in 2021 as a follow-up to the Maven program—an object-recognition system developed to scan hours of surveillance video for identifying potential targets—MSS draws from a wide range of data inputs. It organizes this information into a single, searchable platform that supports everything from logistics and supply status to targeting data and social media monitoring.
This eliminates the need for officers to manually cross-check multiple databases that may be incompatible or siloed, a process that previously took hours or even days. Instead, the MSS platform centralizes relevant information and streamlines access, allowing faster coordination and execution.
Recent updates to the system added capabilities such as advanced natural language processing and the option to integrate tools developed by third-party vendors. MSS is built with an open-architecture approach, which allows users to tailor the interface and add analytical functions without altering the base data. This ensures that all users work with a consistent set of information while adapting the tools to their specific operational needs.
By maintaining a shared foundation of verified data and offering flexibility on top, MSS enables multiple users across various units or commands to collaborate without relying on a rigid centralized system. NATO officials said this flexibility was a key reason for the platform’s rapid adoption within six months of the formal requirement being raised.
Competing Military AI Capabilities
NATO’s acquisition of MSS NATO comes amid concerns that the alliance is falling behind in integrating advanced technologies into its military planning and execution. China has been working on AI-driven operations under its concept of “intelligentized warfare,” which focuses on combining machine learning, autonomous systems, and integrated data processing to speed up battlefield decision-making.
China has conducted simulated war games where AI-assisted commanders reportedly outperformed human-led teams.
The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has invested in autonomous systems, real-time surveillance integration, and electronic warfare incorporating cognitive technologies. These efforts are intended to shorten response times and gain an advantage in fast-changing combat situations.
Russia, too, has continued developing AI-enabled systems despite economic sanctions and ongoing military operations. Russian forces are reportedly working to embed AI in kamikaze drones, such as the Iranian-designed Geran-2, enabling semi-autonomous targeting capabilities.
In addition, Russia is investing in electronic warfare systems aimed at disrupting satellite communications, GPS navigation, and networked systems—areas on which U.S. and NATO militaries remain heavily dependent. Incorporating AI into these electronic warfare tools may enhance their effectiveness by allowing them to respond faster to adversary communications or disrupt coordination more efficiently.
Reliance On The Private Sector
The MSS NATO platform reflects a wider trend of growing reliance on private companies to develop warfighting systems.
Palantir’s growing role in defense contracts is part of a broader shift. In the U.S., firms like Anduril Industries, Shield AI, and Raytheon Technologies are building systems that combine autonomous operations with AI decision support.
In China, companies such as Hikvision and Huawei have reportedly developed surveillance systems with military applications. In Israel, companies like Elbit Systems and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems are producing AI-powered drones and precision targeting technologies.
Unlike traditional defense equipment procurement through state-funded research organizations, AI systems built by private firms often remain proprietary.
Their internal workings, especially the algorithms, may not be transparent or subject to public oversight.
This can limit governments’ ability to adapt or audit the systems independently. In the case of NATO’s MSS platform, the alliance is procuring a tool developed by a private firm, which retains control over key software components that may also be used in other commercial or defense contracts.
This arrangement raises concerns about long-term dependency. Unlike conventional military equipment such as tanks or aircraft, AI platforms are not easily reverse-engineered or modified without sustained vendor support. For European NATO members that lack domestic AI development capabilities, this may pose risks to strategic autonomy in the long run.
NATO’s core strength remains its ability to coordinate complex operations among member states. While the MSS NATO platform enhances this coordination by improving information flow and decision-making, it does not significantly alter NATO’s overall military structure or capabilities.
For the alliance to undergo a fundamental transformation, it would need to integrate AI technologies more deeply into autonomous weapons systems, undersea platforms, cyber defense networks, and frontline tactical operations. Until then, MSS NATO represents an important but incremental upgrade.
As military strategies shift toward data-centric operations, the key advantage will not lie in who possesses the most firepower but in who can interpret battlefield information the fastest and act accordingly. NATO has now entered that arena—but it is still catching up.
- Via: ET News Desk
- Mail us at: editor (at) eurasiantimes.com
