Griffin Tech Days – Transformation of Defense Technology shaped in Lapland
Held in February, Griffin Tech Days 2026 offered a comprehensive view of the current state and future direction of the defense sector. The event brought together representatives from the armed forces and allied nations, key industrial organizations in the field, and a new generation of defense technology companies.
HiQ and the Defense Sector
For HiQ, the event was a natural continuation of its long-term work within the defense sector. Over 30 years of experience in developing digital solutions for the defense industry, close collaboration with prime contractors, and its role as a NATO-approved technology supplier provided a strong foundation for participation.
Griffin Tech Days served as a genuine meeting place where competitive posturing gave way to a shared understanding of the seriousness of the operating environment. The event highlighted how dynamic and rapidly evolving the defense sector currently is, and how significant the need is for new, effective, and well-integrated solutions.
The event provided HiQ with an opportunity to present its perspective on what changes in warfare require from command systems, user interfaces, and decision-support capabilities. At the same time, Griffin Tech Days proved to be an excellent forum for networking and for validating solutions together with defense sector stakeholders.
Adaptive UI CUAS
The rapid growth of drone threats and the scalability of their production create a new kind of challenge, one that many existing digital defense solutions are not equipped to handle as they are. HiQ identified user interfaces and decision support as particularly critical bottlenecks in scenarios where multiple targets must be handled and reaction times are short.
The Adaptive UI CUAS concept was introduced as a response to this very challenge. It leverages artificial intelligence to enhance the work of air defense operators and to address the increasing threat volume of modern drone warfare.
In air defense operations, multiple targets must be identified, classified, and managed simultaneously—quickly yet reliably. With the Adaptive UI CUAS concept, cognitive load is reduced and better decision-making is supported in high-stress situations. The value of the solution becomes most evident in environments where seconds truly matter.
The reception of the presented concept was highly positive. Participants returned to discuss the vision even after the event, and several organizations reported having considered the solution within their own operations. In particular, the concept’s agent-based architecture and the role of AI in decision support sparked extensive discussion.
The concept was constructively challenged, and the discussions demonstrated that the presented vision aligns well with real operational needs from the perspectives of defense forces, industrial actors, and representatives of allied nations.
Recurring Themes in Identified Needs
Discussions during the event revealed several recurring themes. Systems do not always communicate seamlessly with each other, and integrating new sensors or data sources is often slow, which highlights the importance of effective integrations.
The rigidity and operational burden of many solutions, often caused by poorly designed user interfaces, were seen as particular challenges, especially in stressful situations. Cost-effective and dual-use solutions were also considered critical, as drone threats may expand into civilian domains.
This creates a growing need for improved situational awareness management: while data volumes are increasing rapidly, operationally leveraging that data remains challenging.
Adaptive UI CUAS Responds to These Needs
Adaptive UI CUAS addresses the identified challenges by consolidating fragmented data into a single adaptive, human-centered user interface. Artificial intelligence supports threat detection, classification, and prioritization—reducing operators’ cognitive load and improving decision quality.
The modular architecture enables the integration of various sensor, ISR, and weapon systems into a unified solution. The system functions as an upgrade layer on top of existing C2 and C4ISR systems, bringing them in line with the demands of modern warfare.
Market Direction
Griffin Tech Days reinforced the view that the CUAS market is in a strong growth phase, although many solutions are still in development. The need for concrete, rapidly deployable, and operationally tested solutions is evident.
At the same time, the event showed that the pace of development is accelerating: ideas must be translated into operational capability within weeks, not years. The use of artificial intelligence and the rapid integration of new data sources are emerging as decisive competitive factors.
HiQ as a Partner in the Defense Sector
HiQ combines extensive experience in the defense sector with strong application development expertise and the ability to deliver human-centered and efficient user interfaces. Our strength lies in our capability to adopt experimental technologies, harness their potential, and rapidly package them into functional solutions tailored to customer needs.