Europe's role is increasingly being determined by strategic pressure, geopolitical shifts, and growing capability gaps. Europe wants to be ready for defense by the end of the decade, but time is running out. The turning point in security policy requires one thing above all else: speed.

Jörg Astalosch, CEO of IAV: "If we want to see results in 2029, we need clear decisions in 2026: Who will build what? Who will develop what? Who will deliver on a large scale, on time, and with relevance? Defense readiness is not a goal for the future. It is a decision for 2026, and even more so for 2025. If Europe wants to be in a position to defend its values by 2029 at the latest, we must act now with combined forces."

At IAV, we are fully committed. With over 4,000 engineers, in-depth system knowledge, and decades of experience with safety-critical, software-defined mobility platforms, we are transferring this expertise to dual-use applications for defense. We focus on scalable, modular technologies that are quickly ready for deployment. From AI to cybersecurity, from software integration to robust vehicle systems: mobility meets defense. And it works.

At the first WELT Security Summit on November 1, 2025, in Berlin, the focus was precisely on this question: How can Germany and Europe secure their defense capabilities – and what role does industry play in this?

For Jörg Astalosch, one thing is clear: we will only achieve the necessary speed if industry, politics and the defense sector work even more closely together – and dual-use technologies are deployed in a targeted manner.

“The engineers are ready. We see this every day at IAV and know that this also applies to the entire automotive, technology, and industrial landscape. We are not facing a skills problem. We are facing a problem of clarity and speed. Bureaucracy and fragmentation will not protect Europe. What we need now are trusting partnerships, pragmatic procurement, and strategic prioritization,” emphasizes Astalosch.