In a time of rapid technological advancements and geopolitical challenges, the future of combat is in the capability of armed forces to navigate the complexities of multi-domain operations. They must be trained and equipped with integrated technologies and capabilities, that can cross all domains including land, sea, air, space, and cyber space. Modern weapons equipped with advanced data and software demand that forces stay updated to effectively counter emerging threats. The landscape of product testing and evaluation (T&E) is transforming and to cope with modernisation, adoption of new systems and platforms require upgrades to existing range infrastructure and development of new ones.

Traditional domains were previously defined as air, land, and sea although it still varies today. In 2016 at the NATO Summit in Warsaw, the Allied Heads of State and Government recognised cyber space as a domain of operations and in 2019, Foreign Ministers of NATO recognised space domain in Brussels because of its significance for deterrence and defence in the context of navigation, intelligence, and threat detection.

Multi-domain test & evaluation           

T&E is a crucial phase for product development and acquisition. Security forces who will acquire and utilise weapons on the frontlines need to be confident that their equipment and systems are fully functional and operating as they should, and commanders need to know the level of protection and lethality of these systems and equipment. From air, land, sea, space, and cyber space, the maximum interoperability of products and systems across all domains is vital to enhance capability and increase survivability for the success of operations. Lessons from previous and on-going conflicts have underscored the necessity for armed forces to upgrade their systems and boost personnel training for heightened situational awareness and data-driven decision-making. Test ranges must be equipped to accommodate multi-domain training, as well as test and evaluation (TT&E) activities while existing ones have to be modernised.

Advantages of a multi-domain test range

To ensure that weapons, systems, and personnel are adaptable and ready, they must be tested and trained to stay ahead of adversaries. The following are advantages of a multi-domain test range:

Modernisation of facilities for test and evaluation (T&E) are critical for both commercial and defence sectors for interoperability testing to determine the interconnectedness of systems in combat situations. Personnel, systems, and weapons are expected to communicate, coordinate and complement each other to strengthen a force’s capabilities. With today’s advanced technologies, sensors need to connect to shooters, a secure network is vital to connect infrastructure, and cutting-edge applications are essential for data gathering and analysis. Enhanced synchronisation across all domains is crucial and defence forces are obligated to be knowledgeable and agile to function during multi-domain operations at speed and scale.

Multi-domain ranges are also beneficial for training and readiness. They provide real-world simulations of environments to better prepare forces for new technologies, tactics, and skills that they may encounter in the field. Personnel can benefit from training in synthetic environments to experience hyper-realistic sights, sounds, and smells in preparation for real-world combat situations. Together, all these improve combat readiness and effectiveness.

Capability assessment is another vital advantage of testing in a multi-domain T&E range. Strategies and systems in multi-faceted operational scenarios can be tested in a controlled environment to identify their capabilities and limitations. This process helps identify strengths and weaknesses, and studies data for forces to make informed decisions especially in the development and acquisition of new systems.

Lastly, utilising a multi-domain range can reduce risks by testing defence systems and products to help identify potential issues and vulnerabilities. This greatly contributes to risk management and enhances the competency of trained forces, significantly strengthening national security.

Case study

Multi-domain interoperability plays a crucial role to preserve peace and stability in managing geopolitical situations, such as a case in South East Asia, to avoid escalation into a wider conflict.

There is a highly contested territory in the Asian region and several countries are asserting territorial claims over various islands, reefs, and waters. The area is strategic for its rich natural resources, vital shipping lanes and military potential advantage. Tensions are high in the area, which is why one of the countries involved in the dispute strengthened its military capabilities by leveraging its partnership with an ally while managing relations with one of the powerful countries asserting its claim over the territory.

The two allies who are undergoing joint military operations have a long-standing partnership. For the purposes of deterrence and defence, they have been actively collaborating in multi-domain operations initiatives that involve joint military training and exercises, focusing on interoperability across all domains. These include utilising simulated environments in which forces train to enhance coordination, communication and operational effectiveness. The collaboration between the two also includes operations in maritime security and surveillance such as sharing of intelligence, joint patrols, utilisation of cutting-edge surveillance technologies, including radar systems, drones, and maritime patrol aircraft.

In the West, an alliance among nations has also adopted an approach to develop its multi-domain operational capabilities that will strengthen the group to consolidate its efforts to safeguard the freedom and security of its members’ population.

Conclusion

Future combat will no longer take place within a single domain but across land, air, sea, space, and cyber space. Those who do not adapt will face serious consequences of failing to modernise. Greater collaborative efforts among nations is necessary to facilitate knowledge transfer, upskilling, and sharing of experiences, as well as a multi-sectoral approach to fortify national security, face current challenges, and stay ahead of emerging threats.    

The first of these aircraft will enter into conversion at the beginning of 2026; they will enter into service and join the RSAF in 2027 to carry out air-to-air refuelling and transport missions.

“This new order demonstrates the high level of customer satisfaction with the A330 MRTT”, said Jean-Brice Dumont, Head of Air Power at Airbus Defence and Space.  "This is the third contract signed by Saudi Arabia for the A330 MRTT, making the RSAF one of the largest MRTT operators in the world."

The contract also includes a logistics support package with spare parts, training services and service support for the new four aircraft.

All the RSAF A330 MRTT are configured with hose and drogue pods, boom system and also refuelling receptacle, which allows the A330 MRTT to be refuelled from boom-equipped tankers.

Twenty-four of the new helicopters will be operated by the Kuwait Armed Forces and six by the Kuwait National Guard.

This is the 12th nation in the Middle East and North Africa region to use Raytheon’s advanced multi-spectral reconnaissance pods. 

The award, which will be contracted via U.S. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) channels, involves upgrading existing DB-110 Electric Optic/Infra Red pods designed for fast jet operations, including F-15 and F16, to the advanced MS-110 configuration and providing improved ground station exploitation features associated with the SCI-Toolset suite of software tools. 

The MS-110 is an expansive upgrade to the highly successfully DB-110, which was first introduced in 2010. The MS-110 provides day and night, wide area, long-range imagery coverage in true colour. It also enables a number of sophisticated techniques, including  camouflage defeat, near-real-time data link capability, and can image through natural and battlefield obscurants. 

As a full ‘end-to-end’ system, an MS-110 programme includes sophisticated mission planning computers as well the company’s SCI-Toolset suite of ground station exploitation software.  An advanced ‘on-demand’ data link will be included which greatly increases the system’s utility for indications and warning missions during periods of escalating tensions or actual combat operations to automate and improve imagery analysis and reporting.

However, the country’s economic and political issues threaten to undermine this potential, as poor fiscal policy, authoritarian politics, and erosion of an independent central banking system have limited Western investment, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

GlobalData’s latest report, “Turkey Defence Market 2024-2029”, reveals  that Türkiye’s defence budget is set to increase significantly to $73.2 billion in 2029, up from $44.5 billion in 2024. The acquisition budget, which is $8.3 billion in 2024, will rise to $12.5 billion by 2029. The personnel spend will increase from $24.1 billion in 2024 to $40.3 billion by the end of the forecast period.

Wilson Jones, Defence Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Türkiye is struggling with rising corruption and authoritarianism, and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s rule is increasingly criticized as dictatorial. The targeting of opposition figures, independent judges, and rising corruption all contributed to the EU’s 2023 decision to halt Türkiye’s EU accession due to worsening human rights.

“Economically, Türkiye has been in a major crisis since 2018, with the lira dropping from 6-1 to 35-1 against the US dollar. Inflation is rising at an alarming rate, caused in part by a large government deficit and large amounts of foreign-currency denominated debt (largely held in stronger Euros and the US dollar). These factors disincentivise foreign investment in Turkey, as other markets are perceived to offer strong returns without these risks and challenges to doing business.”

Jones continues: “One programme that highlights the Turkish defense industry’s promises and challenges is the Altay Main Battle Tank (MBT). The Altay MBT is based on the South Korean K2 Panther and heavily relies on Korean technology. The Turkish firm BMC received technological assistance from Hyundai with the development and production of initial models, with the first prototype being delivered in 2016.”

Compared to the K2, the Altay features a modified CN08 120mm cannon with improved gun stabilisers, chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN)- resistant armor, and a braking system that allows for rapid acceleration and deceleration to avoid anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM). The T1 and T2 are extremely similar.

The T1 was originally supposed to feature a Turkish-manufactured engine and transmission, but due to supply chain issues, it had to use a variety of German, Korean, and Ukrainian imports for these components. The T2 is the serial production that features these Turkish elements. A future T3 model will have an unmanned turret, and it is possible these earlier T1’s and T2’s could receive such upgrades. All variants are compatible with exterior reactive armor additions.

Jones concluded: “Türkiye’s acquisition plans of several hundred Altay’s indicate it seeks to replace foreign systems in this domain. There has also been significant foreign interest in the Altay reported from Columbia, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan. Qatar has already purchased 400 units, and Oman is currently negotiating a deal with Türkiye.

“While the Altay is a powerful platform with strong export potential, its development history also indicates that Türkiye’s defence industry remains heavily reliant on international trade and assistance. This poses challenges to the government’s plans for full defence industry autarky.”

World Defense Show 2024 saw a record number of 773 exhibitors, showcased on an expanded floorspace, that sold out six months before the event opened. The third edition looks to be selling even faster and expects greater demand from exhibitors, visitors and delegations. 

Andrew Pearcey, chief executive officer, World Defense Show, said: “The demand has been phenomenal. Just four months after the second edition of the show closed, to global industry approbation, we have already sold 50 percent of the floorspace for the third edition. Many of the industry’s leading multi-domain businesses booked their stands for 2026 during the 2024 event. I am in no doubt that World Defense Show 2026, will be an essential event for global companies across the defence supply chain.”

The agreement aims to establish a global platform leveraging the defence and aerospace capabilities of both companies to bring together their respective product portfolios and cater to the requirements of global and local customers. T

his includes evaluating cooperation across EDGE’s and Adani’s core product domains, including missiles & weapons covering airborne, surface, infantry, ammunition, and air defence products, platforms & systems covering unmanned aerial systems (UAS), loitering munitions, counter drone systems, unmanned ground vehicles (UGV), as well as electronic warfare (EW) and cyber technologies.

The agreement will explore the establishment of R&D facilities in India and the UAE; the setting up of development, production and maintenance facilities of defence and aerospace solutions to not just serve the two captive markets, but also Southeast Asian and wider global markets.

Hamad Al Marar, managing director and CEO of Edge Group, said: "Our agreement with Adani represents a significant milestone, strengthening our ties within India’s defence industry, and underscoring our mutual commitment to advancing UAE-India military ties.”

The deal between ARC Aero Systems and the Riyadh-headquartered defence and security manufacturing specialist Life Shield will open the way for upwards of £300m of investment into the two nations’ aerospace sectors. 

Bedfordshire-based ARC Aero Systems is in the advanced stages of developing a specially adapted hybrid-electric powered aircraft which it plans to bring to market by 2026. The company’s modified design of the Avian Pegasus, a tried and tested jump take-off gyroplane with specific features including vertical lift and landing, requires virtually no infrastructure in accessing remote communities and supporting emergency responders. This newly developed air taxi has approval from the US Federal Aviation Administration and can transport passengers for commercial purposes.

ARC is also developing a larger nine-seat Linx P9 compound rotorcraft and a C600, one of the largest civilian unmanned aerial vehicles, capable of carrying payloads of up to 100kg across long distances. 

Supported by Saudi Arabia’s National Industry Development Center, this new partnership will see both the Saudi Government and Life Shield make an equity investment in ARC Systems with the creation of a new company, based in the Middle East nation, called Life Shield Aerospace.

The newly formed company will bolster UK manufacturing with the pilot production of each of ARC’s three designs: Pegasus, P9 and C600. Life Shield Aerospace will then set up facilities for wider scale manufacturing of aircraft in Saudi Arabia for domestic use by the country’s Ministry of Air Transport and for worldwide export.

The SPA also includes the delivery of UK-based pilot training and it opens the door to a strategic academic collaboration with Cranfield University.

As well as providing a major boost to UK aviation and manufacturing, the global partnership marks another key step forward for ARC Aero Systems as it prepares to launch into a market estimated to grow from its current value of around $9bn to $45bn by 2030. 

ARC’s founder and CEO, Dr Seyed Mosheni, said: “We are incredibly excited and honoured to be part of this global joint venture with Life Shield. Not only does this support ARC in bringing its innovative solutions to market, it also provides a huge economic boost to UK aviation by promoting manufacturing, further R&D and academic collaboration within the sector.