NATO Science and Technology Trends Report

The report is split into two volumes covering the overall conclusions (Volume 1) and the detailed analysis (Volume 2), providing an assessment of Science & Technology trends and their potential impact on NATO military operations, defence capabilities, enterprise functions, and political decision space.

The report aims to assist current and future military and civilian decision-makers in understanding emerging and disruptive technologies, thereby guiding NATO R&D portfolio management, innovation activities, and capability planning.

Over the next 20 years, the report asserts that four overarching characteristics will define advanced military technologies. Technological developments will be increasingly intelligent, interconnected, decentralised, and digital. These, in turn, it will lead to military capabilities that are increasingly autonomous, networked, multi-domain, and precise. Technology will be increasingly dual use, i.e. developed and drawn from the commercial sector.