Nokia Defense Partners with C3IA for UK Defense Digital Transformation

Nokia Defense and C3IA have entered into a strategic partnership to accelerate the digital transformation of UK defense operations. The collaboration aims to deliver resilient, multi-domain capabilities across various defense sectors, including tactical communications, command and control (C2), sensing, autonomous systems, and edge computing.

The partnership builds on both companies' participation in the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) TacSys framework, which will provide access to Nokia’s full connectivity portfolio from headquarters to the tactical edge. This framework will enable the UK MOD and other public sector organizations to procure Nokia’s advanced communication solutions to support future tactical requirements.

Nokia Defense, a division of Nokia, specializes in providing secure, intelligent connectivity for defense in the AI era. The company’s expertise in advanced connectivity will be combined with C3IA’s systems engineering, capability integration, and security services. C3IA, a UK-based specialist in systems engineering, ICT, information assurance, and NCSC-assured cyber services, will contribute its deep understanding of defense systems and support services.

Together, the companies will co-develop solutions that focus on delivering resilient communications, secure information sharing, and network interoperability across land, air, maritime, cyber, and space domains. These capabilities are essential for modern military operations, which increasingly depend on the ability to securely connect people, platforms, sensors, and data across multiple domains.

Mikko Viitaniemi, Vice President and Head of Nokia Defense, emphasized the importance of this collaboration.

Steve Brown, Managing Director of C3IA, highlighted the value of the partnership for rapid deployment of innovative capabilities. "Delivering defense capability at pace requires the right combination of secure communications, sector expertise, and systems integration. Our partnership with Nokia enables the rapid deployment of innovative capabilities that can deliver real operational value on the battlefield. Ultimately, our shared goal is to connect the battlespace, strengthen national security, and help equip the MOD for the future," Brown said.

The collaboration will focus on translating advanced communications technologies into practical, integrated capabilities that address real operational requirements for the defense sector. This includes tactical and operational communications, private 4G and 5G, situational awareness, command and control (C2), sensing, autonomous systems, and edge computing. By leveraging Nokia’s global leadership in network technology and C3IA’s expertise in defense systems, the partnership aims to deliver next-generation defense capabilities for modern, multi-domain operations.