The SAPIENT normal performed an important position in defending world leaders throughout a NATO summit in The Hague (between 24 and 25 June 2025).
Numerous unauthorised drones have been neutralised by reducing-edge expertise compliant with the SAPIENT normal (BSI Flex 335), which the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) has developed. The SAPIENT normal allowed Dutch navy forces to efficiently intercept the drones.
SAPIENT, which underpins a forthcoming NATO counter-drone messaging normal, ensured seamless coordination between totally different defence methods, offering vital safety for delegates and the general public.
Paul from Dstl stated:
“SAPIENT is the results of years of sustained funding and innovation in science and expertise analysis. Autonomous networked sensor and effector methods play a rising position in our defence and safety, enabling machine pace sense to impact, which might present speedy menace detection, autonomous situational consciousness and elevated lethality.
“The adoption of the SAPIENT standard by our allies maximises the effectiveness and interoperability of international drone operations.”
This deployment marks one of many first publicised makes use of of SAPIENT in a reside operational setting within the Netherlands. It highlights the rising worldwide adoption of British open requirements in NATO-aligned safety methods.
The profitable safety of the NATO summit demonstrates how UK defence science and expertise continues to play an important position in safeguarding worldwide safety, with British innovation straight contributing to the security of world leaders and main diplomatic occasions.
Dr Paul Hollinshead, Chief Executive of Dstl, stated:
“The profitable deployment of our SAPIENT normal at the NATO summit demonstrates precisely what Dstl exists to attain – delivering reducing-edge science and expertise that protects not simply the UK, however our allies and companions around the globe.
“This operational success shows how our open standards approach enables seamless coordination between different nations’ defence systems, which is absolutely critical as security threats become increasingly complex and cross-border.”