Why a problem-solving mindset is key to transforming defence AI capability

In an era where threats evolve at an unprecedented pace, so too must defence’s approach to problem-solving.

AI has emerged as a force multiplier – augmenting data analysis, enhancing decision-making and improving operational efficiency. Take, for example, Strategic Command’s use of AI capabilities to streamline work processes as it explores threats to UK military operations worldwide.

However, while there are some excellent applications of AI in defence, there remains a huge opportunity to significantly accelerate the speed at which meaningful AI capabilities are developed, tested, and deployed – and move away from a more rigid approach to AI development which often entails:

Prematurely defining solutions - attempting to rigidly predefine solutions risks stifling innovation or overlooking pre-existing solutions.
Dispersed budgets – funding is often dispersed across ‘science projects’ rather than pointed at operational challenges, and with clear funding routes to see AI capabilities from proven concept through to deployment quickly.
Long R&D cycles – by the time a solution is ready, the threat landscape has changed.

Risk-averse procurement – this will inevitably favour existing, large suppliers and neglect the tech SME sector which can offer high velocity, low risk software development geared towards specific challenges.

High risk of failure – solutions built in isolation and without direct collaboration with end-users often don’t match real-world needs.

️Slow deployment – bureaucratic hurdles delay fielding capabilities where they are needed most.

This begins firstly with defence being able to clearly articulate the problems they’re facing, and the outcomes they need to achieve. And in turn for industry to be able to develop rapid prototypes in response to these challenges that can be put into the hands of end-users immediately for testing and feedback. Working with end-users directly allows for quick iterations, collaborative innovation, and ultimately a solution that is quickly deployable following effective co-development.

Mission Engineering: Adarga’s agile approach to AI development

Our approach to agile AI development is designed to enable low risk, high velocity experiments to prove concepts rapidly; deliver fast, impactful results; and empower our customers to benefit from the latest in AI innovation.

Here’s how we do it:

1. Problem-first approach: solving real defence challenges

Rather than starting with AI and searching for a use case, we start with mission needs.

Our process begins when a defence customer presents a challenge—most often centred around data. We work directly with operators, analysts, and decision-makers to deeply understand the problem before developing a tailored AI solution.

Importantly, our mission engineers and technologists are domain experts with a plethora of deployed AI capabilities across defence and national security. This expertise ensures the team not only inherently understand organisations’ specialist operational challenges, but the vital AI guardrails that need be applied in the high-stakes environments in which they operate.

2. Low-TRL, high-speed prototyping: test fast, iterate faster

Many AI projects get stuck in research labs, never reaching operational deployment.

We break this cycle by rapidly developing low Technology Readiness Level (TRL) prototypes that can be tested in real-world conditions within weeks, not years.

Early testing in real environments – we validate our AI in mission-relevant settings, ensuring it aligns with user needs.

Continuous feedback loop – users provide feedback, allowing us to refine and improve solutions in real-time.

️Fail fast, succeed faster – by iterating quickly, we identify what works (and what doesn’t) long before full deployment.

Our ability to work at speed and harness the latest in tech innovation is underpinned not only by our world-class data science expertise, but our composable AI platform (a proprietary ecosystem of 35+ models geared for defence data intelligence). This rapidly accelerates our ability to build solutions that fit the need and that we know work, having formed the baseline for already successfully deployed technologies in defence and global security.

Our AI capability accelerator – Vanguard - is our sandbox for projects of this nature. It brings new technologies to bear faster than ever before, enabling the value of the latest developments in AI to be realised for customers immediately.

3. Seamless deployment: from prototype to operational system

Once we properly validate our AI solution with defence end-users, we transition it from a low-TRL concept to a fully operational capability.

Our approach ensures:

-AI trust – They have been developed alongside users, building trust and confidence in the tech and its outputs (as well as an understanding of its limits).

-Human oversight – Our approach to AI development is centred around human machine teaming, making operators more efficient and augmenting their outputs.

-AI safety – Our robust guardrails ensure solutions are developed with transparency for the high-stakes environments in which our customers operate.

-Scalability – AI models trained on small datasets can be expanded for larger applications.

-Security & compliance – We understand stringent defence security standards and provide technology that adheres to its policies.

- Integration with existing systems – Our cloud-agnostic offerings enable flexible integration options, and we can have the ability to deploy at different classification levels.

Adarga's problem-solving approach will avoid the pitfalls of prematurely defining solutions because the armed forces will not always know the solution needed to overcome a challenge or exploit an opportunity. Nor should they. If they attempt to rigidly predefine solutions, they risk stifling innovation or overlooking pre-existing solutions. Suppliers will inevitably focus on responding to pre-determined lists of technical requirements, rather than offering creative or off-the-shelf solutions.

Adarga’s approach ensures AI doesn’t just remain a promising idea but becomes a mission-ready force multiplier that can deliver decisive strategic advantage to the UK and its allies.

Read a case study from one of our recent Mission Engineering projects here.

"We loved working with Adarga. From the start there was a rare desire to fix the problem, not go through a process. As a result, we developed a cutting-edge app within a startlingly short time, whilst ensuring that important security and privacy issues were fully addressed. It is saving lives."

Always a Rifleman Programme Coordinator