Last year, Indra presented its ambitious Leading the Future plan. Regarding technology, what are the main lines of this plan?

The context is important: Indra is a technology and product company. We are known for our electronic warfare, radar, and command and control products. We have always been a company whose products are associated with technology. Now, in some ways, the driver of combat superiority is technology, which has always been relevant, but there is a technological acceleration in the sector and a need to adapt to the threat, so we must focus on technology.

We must be able to accelerate our focus on the product, technology, and industrialization. We are now required to have a good product and be able to manufacture it in large quantities. There is a very significant industrial challenge that is reflected in our strategic plan. The pillars are a focus on the product and technology, to the point that the position of CTO has been created, which didn't exist at Indra. The organization has identified the need to focus on technology and products at the highest level of the company. There is also a very ambitious technology development plan with a very ambitious path and schedule.

We have product development on the one hand, and technology and deep tech on the other. This is innovative; in the past, we have invested less in this deep tech; now we are in the field of quantum and photonics, we are working on directed energy, we have experience in electronic warfare, radars, and now also in power electronics so that directed energy has an impact. These are highly disruptive technologies.

In terms of product, we are evolving radars toward AESA for new use cases, investing heavily in radars for other operational purposes that have proven necessary, such as anti-drone or defense against anti-tank munitions. In electronic warfare, we are investing in the ground segment; just look at the conflict in Ukraine, which is proving to be a very special one, with a prominent role played by countermeasures for munitions guidance and autonomous vehicles.

Significant investment is being made in electronic warfare, as well as in command and control toward a multi-domain combat cloud, which is a reality. The driver of this technology is FCAS, which has enabled the development of a technological core for the combat cloud, which is applicable to other domains such as land, sea, and air.

As well as Indra Space and Indra Land Systems, we are developing the cyber aspect of cyber defense with European programs focused on situational awareness and command and control in cyberspace.

We also consider AI to be of utmost interest, which is why we have launched a new business unit, Indra Mind, whose motto is "automating critical operations through AI." We face a huge challenge in the area of ​​critical operations, but we have the technology, and we also develop and operate critical services. It is a highly specialized AI for critical operations, which has very critical requirements, especially in the military field: decision-making, computer vision, situational awareness, 360-degree vision, and threat alerts. We have made a very important development in combat and mission systems, which we showcase at FEINDEF, such as Maestre.

In short, a commitment within the organization to the product, to technology, and to industrialization to answer to the challenges of history or to deep tech, which translates into the creation of a CTO profile, a very detailed technological plan that has been followed for a year, and an investment plan for development and industrialization.

Indra's plans aim to establish itself as a true "benchmark company." What are the major challenges it faces to achieve this goal?

The major challenges are not new; we have been addressing them for some time. The important leap forward came when we were appointed national coordinator for the FCAS (Factory Coordinator of the FCAS), which forced us to take a step forward and be able to "steer" an entire national industry, as it is the largest collaboration program in Europe. It has forced us to be able to generate a driving force and coordinate the industry, while also coordinating with major players like Dassault and Airbus. We have had to prepare and have learned a lot from our European partners.

This has taught us a lot, and that is why we are not caught off guard by the current geostrategic situation in Europe, which has a dual component. One is that a series of needs must be met, and also from the perspective of European sovereignty. This requires taking a step forward, developing our own products and technologies, and industrialization capabilities. We face a very significant challenge, also as a country, in which we want to have a driving force and team up with national industry, a magnificent industry with a great capacity for innovation.

We aspire to consolidate capabilities, be the aggregator and manager of large programs, such as the FCAS, and lead the entire industry in that direction. Because this is about Europe, not individual countries, and although it's not easy, we've already experienced it. If it's difficult for the large companies, it's almost impossible for the smaller ones. We have to step up and create a driving force with the industry.

Also in the EDFs and the "preparatory action," we're leading European programs, leading many projects and participating in the most strategic ones, such as the european command and control, a PESCO program, led by Indra for the past three years. In subsequent years, we've been very relevant, even coordinating ten of the major European projects, with a presence in a total of 75 programs. We haven't been involved alone in these programs but with national industry, and we believe it's working very well. Since collaboration is key now, we're ready for it. We're doing well because we continue to learn. Our goal is to be a leading company and bring together the best of our industry in terms of product and technology. We're working in new fields such as space, AI, and ground vehicles. We want to lead the fields we've already been in, as well as new ones.

In the wake of the ongoing conflicts, what technologies has Indra identified as key to its development in the medium and short term?

We're learning many lessons, although some technologies are more visible and others less so. Ground systems, artillery, surface-to-surface missiles, and unmanned aerial, naval, and ground vehicles are playing a major role. In fact, naval conflict has almost disappeared because these platforms exist. There are other, less visible, challenges, such as airspace denial, especially on the Russian side, which affects positioning systems, UAVs, guided munitions, and missiles. Communications face enormous challenges, both tactical and satellite-based, with secure satellite communications playing a prominent role. There are needs to be met; for example, Ukraine has had to rapidly develop a command and control system. This becomes more complicated if multiple actors are involved. Intelligence is also very important, using external sources, for example, in the case of Ukraine.

At Indra, we have taken note of specific and conceptual or systemic issues. We have moved from systems designed to last to systems that must be continuously adapted. Durability and life cycles must continue, but engineering and adaptation must be continuous because the threat and its countermeasures are constantly evolving. We have worked to accelerate our development systems, our engineering. In fact, we have taken note in every area. For example, in drones, we are making progress.

We will play a major role, such as the Valero, a flexible, multipurpose aerial vehicle that can be launched from the ground or the air with different functions ranging from radio spectrum denial, use as a decoy, for signals intelligence, or even carrying a warhead. We think it's the future. Also in space, where communications are critical. That's why we've made a commitment to space, secure communications, intelligence in space, and the development of satellite platforms, which can be used for communications or signals intelligence. There are increasingly more functionalities in space.

In command and control, the multi-domain combat cloud, the challenge is to incorporate a multinational force with multiple assets that must communicate, networked sensors, or conventional command and control. Signals intelligence and jamming systems, which have taken on a major role, are also key. At Indra, we have many electromagnetic jamming systems deployed around the world. The first is the importance of all types of land systems, wheeled, tracked, and self-propelled artillery. It's an area we must be involved in, developing technologies very quickly, manufacturing them very quickly, and updating them very quickly. By developing different payloads, I can address different needs.

Indra has confirmed its plans to enter the land platform sector. What technologies will it develop for this segment, and how far do you want to go in this area?

At Indra, we have been developing fire control systems for seventy years, for fixed and mobile artillery in Aranjuez, and then for armoured vehicles, with elements such as gunner and tank commander periscopes, tank controls, optronics and fire calculators, and onboard battlefield management systems (BMS) like the one on the Leopardo.

The introduction of the 8x8, which is an industrial success, allows for next-generation capabilities, with a combat system that's second-to-none, the best in its segment. The Maestre mission system is the brain of the vehicle and manages firing sensors, highly sophisticated communications, situational awareness, cutting-edge driving aids, and features an internal fiber optic network. Furthermore, the rest of the technologies provided by partners are up to par, being state-of-the-art. We have taken advantage of opportunities in both national and European programs to develop the best combat system.

Indra Land Vehicles shows that our ambition in the land sector is maximal; we won't be complacent. The first initiative is to take over the majority of Tess Defense, something we're already doing. Tess Defense will assume greater responsibility for the production of the 8x8. But beyond Tess Defense, we have the ambition to manufacture land platforms, as is well known. Land systems are key players in real conflicts, and that's why we want to take a step forward, first with technologists to help us get started, but later on, we'll have full capabilities.

Indra has experience in areas such as command and control and optronics, but it has launched others, such as radars for active protection systems. Will we see a national APS?

In an active protection system, the most demanding component is the radar, and that's why I'm very proud of our Nemus radar. All the elements are unique, but the radar is the most unique. That's why we began development four years ago and we take it very seriously because it will be a very important operational requirement, initially for classic threats, but then the drone arrived, which increases the difficulty.

That's why it's important to use top-of-the-range technology that operates in S-band, the best in terms of resistance to very adverse weather conditions. The rest of the solutions on the market aren't in S-band and have difficulties in that regard. Nemus has very good performance against bad weather and has the ability to detect missiles. We have conducted tests with missiles and developed the latest technology, seeking the highest performance in the face of challenges and the radar worked perfectly.These are missiles, weather conditions, the reflection inherent in the urban environment, and the emergence of drones.

We have already conducted tests against drones with Nemus. The missiles are the most demanding in terms of speed and radar section, and in the case of maintaining the track, the challenge is the drones. Confident of its market success, it will be cutting-edge and competitive. I am convinced that we will see a national active protection system (APS) in Spain, as we have the highest-tech components to complete a system like this, including munitions and ammunition delivery systems.

Growth can be organic or inorganic. In addition to those already mentioned in recent months, does the company plan to acquire or become a shareholder in other defense or security companies?

Of course. As we have already analysed, we are rapidly accelerating the company from an organic perspective (engineering, product, and industrialization). But we want to grow faster, we want to incorporate new companies, and there are open opportunities in the areas we have discussed. There will be news in the coming months.

In the current context, international cooperation programs are more important than ever. And technology is key to positioning itself in them. What European programs is the company currently involved in, and where is this cooperation headed?

We talked a little about this at the beginning. I think we've done well in this area. We're in FCAS, the flagship program in Europe. We've pushed hard in the EDFs, with more than 70 programs, and we lead 10 of the most relevant ones. We've fully understood the importance of Europe in the current context and we're an example in this regard; we can be proud of it. We participate in those related to our areas of activity and are making good use of them with our European partners. They may or may not materialize into products, but we're learning a lot. There are others that are still ongoing from previous calls; as we've seen, we're now in 12 additional ones, of which we lead the Scepter.

We're involved in areas such as air with the ENGRT II (Next Generation Rotorcraft) FASETT 2 (Future Mid-Sized Tactical Cargo Aircraft). Among those already being developed, we believe NG MIMA (Next Generation Military Integrated Modular Avionics) is very important because, ultimately, the mission system is more complex, with more sensor information that needs to be processed. We believe the avionics of the future is modular. Air Electronic Attack Capability (AEAC), European strategic command and control, and the EFISAT satellite communications system are very important in 2022.

In the terrestrial arena, the next-generation combat vehicle AURIGA (Armored Infantry Fighting Vehicle) and the MARTE (Main Armored Tank of Europe) program; and in the maritime arena, we are working on Nereus (system of systems naval platforms), which is like FCAS but adapted to the naval environment. In space, we are developing the EPW2 (Secure Waveform for SATCOM), as we have extensive experience with communications waveforms. Also the multisensor Earth observation program, ARGOS (multisource satellite image analysis), which we consider very important. In cyberspace, cyber defense programs continue, in which we are leading players, such as cyber situational awareness, simulation capabilities, and cyber training exercises with the Cyber ​​Range platform or the Citadel Range (Next Generation Cyber ​​Range).

Do you think the current investment cycle, with recent announcements, favours the development of critical technologies for the security and defense sector?

Without a doubt, we've also discussed this; there are two important challenges. Ensuring the Armed Forces have the capabilities they require represents an enormous challenge for industrialization, and at the same time, we want to do so with sovereignty because these are critical areas. Therefore, you will necessarily have to invest in European technologies. I am convinced that there will be a huge boost in defense and dual-use technologies due to the European effort to invest in this area. Sovereignty is present in many areas, from the smallest to the largest, from electronics to a large weapons system, which in turn relies on many capabilities. Both challenges will lead to very powerful technological development that will have a dual component, also in other areas where we lack sovereignty, such as electronics.

At what stage is a European program, in which Indra is the national coordinator, such as FCAS?

We have spoken about this program several times due to its importance and its significant challenges. We are still in a very early phase, although it is very important due to its maximum level of ambition. We have to develop a system of systems that works collaboratively, with uninterrupted communications, combat systems, electronic warfare, sensors, remote carriers... a level of complexity of another dimension. When we initially set a blank sheet of paper and considered what technologies would be used in an aircraft that will fly in 2040, it was quite a challenge to think about the disruptive technologies that will be there. It's a challenge of innovation, of maturing technologies, a phase we were in at the beginning of the program.

It's a challenge, but the program is proving to be a success. We're now in the technology maturation phase, on the way to prototypes. It's a success and will go well because it's a necessity. But whatever happens, it's already a success because it has forced the industry to develop technologies with the highest level of ambition. Governments took this program very seriously, with no funding issues, and there's a growing team spirit.