At Hadean, we spend a lot of time thinking about technology and what it means for the future of defence. But for me, this work isn’t just about advanced simulations, AI tech or new contracts – it’s about something much bigger. It’s about building capability, resilience, and opportunity. It’s about doing something that really matters – for our security and for our economy.
We’re living in a world where threats are evolving faster than traditional systems can adapt. Countries are increasingly realising that if they want to stay ahead, they need to invest in sovereign tech – technology they build, understand, and control themselves. And what’s exciting is that these investments don’t just strengthen defence – they act as powerful economic multipliers.
Look at the United States. Programs like DARPA didn’t just support military innovation – they sparked technologies that power today’s economy: the internet, GPS, semiconductors. Today, the U.S. defence sector supports more than 2 million jobs and drives billions in private investment into dual-use technologies, especially in AI, autonomy, and cyber.
Take Estonia. In the face of rising regional threats, it made early investments in sovereign cyber capabilities, turning past vulnerabilities into a source of strength. The country’s focus on digital resilience has led to globally respected institutions like the NATO Cyber Defence Centre, and helped spark a tech ecosystem that now plays a central role in its economy. Defence investment didn’t just protect Estonia – it helped position it as a digital leader far beyond its size.
Lithuania is following a similar path. By aligning defence priorities with innovation, it’s nurturing a fast-growing ecosystem of companies working on secure communications, autonomy, and other technologies. These efforts are drawing international interest and investment, and helping turn defence into a driver of high-value exports and national resilience. Like Estonia, Lithuania shows that sovereign capability isn’t just about security – it’s about future-proofing the economy.
And in France, the development of sovereign platforms like the Rafale fighter jet has led to tens of billions in exports, with every €1 invested in defence R&D generating over €2 in economic return, according to their Ministry of Armed Forces. Sovereign defence isn’t a cost – it’s a value generator.
This isn’t just happening elsewhere. It’s happening here in the UK, and I’m proud that we at Hadean are contributing to that story.
We’re building cutting-edge, cloud-native simulation platforms that help the British Army train smarter and more safely. We recently signed a long-term agreement with the MoD, and we’re actively supporting the shift toward more agile, synthetic environments for mission rehearsal and operational planning. But this work isn’t just about tech – it’s about enabling sovereign capability, supporting UK supply chains, and opening the door for other innovators across the country.
What excites me even more is that the technology we’re building at Hadean is inherently dual-use. The same platform that supports defence training and operational decision-making can also help civilian organisations – whether in government, logistics, city planning, or disaster response – model complex systems, run simulations, and make better, faster decisions in times of uncertainty. From planning and decision support to real-time risk mitigation, our tech is designed to support resilience across sectors.
With recent government support – like the £400 million innovation fund for defence SMEs – we’re seeing a real commitment to nurturing this ecosystem. It’s creating jobs, stimulating investment, and helping the UK position itself as a leader in secure, advanced technologies.
So yes, we’re a tech company. But what we’re building at Hadean goes beyond just products. It’s about contributing to a future where the UK is more secure, more self-reliant, and more economically resilient.
That’s why I believe this matters. That’s why I believe in what we’re doing.
