EU to Create Its Own Defense Data-Sharing Platform Without the U.S.

The European Union plans to establish its own defense data-sharing platform, independent of U.S. involvement, by 2030.

According to Euractiv, which reviewed a European Defence Agency presentation, the initiative is called the European Defence Artificial Intelligence Data Space (DAIDS).

The project aims to enable EU member states to securely exchange sensitive defense-related information.

So far, EU countries have relied on nationally preferred providers, resulting in a fragmented, uncoordinated system for storing and sharing sensitive data.

In particular, this concerns the use of foreign-made infrastructure – most often American – which creates potential dependency and vulnerability.

Last year, the European Commission proposed creating a “reliable, secure, and interoperable data environment” in its Defence Roadmap to 2030. The platform is expected to be operational by that time.

The European Union has already signed contracts with a consortium of three companies to support the project’s development: France’s CEA, France-based Cloud Data Engine, and Europe’s Sopra Steria. The next step is to encourage member states to coordinate joint procurement of technologies that will comply with the future European defence data space.

The documents also state that DAIDS is planned to be integrated into the regular operations of the armed forces and defence authorities of member states in 2029–2030.

As the European Union increasingly questions its reliance on the United States, European armies and defence institutions face a growing need to ensure proper protection of their data, Euractiv notes.

In this context, two complementary projects are currently planned. The first is a data space that will function as an “EU-wide federated structure designed to ensure reliable, secure, and sovereign sharing of data relevant to defense.”

The second involves EU governments developing a “sovereign military cloud,” a need previously emphasized by EU Commissioner for Defence Andrius Kubilius.