The event brings together Finnish and international defence organisations and technology developers to test new solutions in realistic operational environments. Millog VTE provides a shared situational awareness capability to support the assessment of interoperability and operational suitability.
Millog Authorities and Industry business unit (Millog VTE) is taking part in the NATO Innovation Range Capability Demonstrator, a testing event taking place at OuluZone in Finland, on 28-29 October 2026. The invitation-only event brings together Finnish and international defence and security technology companies, research institutions, technology developers and NATO representatives. The event is coordinated by the Finnish defence administration, BusinessOulu, the Digital Defence Ecosystem (DDE) and the Defence Innovation Network Finland (DEFINE) in cooperation with NATO.
The event showcases the NATO Innovation Range Future Connectivity (NIR FC) initiative, which was launched jointly by Finland and Sweden, as well as Finland’s Test, Evaluation, Verification and Validation (TEVV) capabilities. Solutions on display include counter-drone technologies, sensor fusion, AI-enabled command and control and situational awareness, resilient 5G and 6G communications, and the integration of unmanned systems.
Millog VTE provides the centralised situational awareness system used during the event, bringing together information generated by the participating organisations. Technologies are tested in simulated scenarios designed to reflect real-world operational situations. Participants enter information into a shared system, which creates a comprehensive operational picture, supporting cooperation and decision-making throughout the showcase.
Finland Supports the Development of NATO’s Innovation Activities
The NATO Innovation Range is a NATO-led collaborative framework designed to accelerate the development, testing and adoption of technologies that are critical to defence and security. Its testing events enable new technologies and solutions to be evaluated in realistic operational environments, while also assessing their performance and interoperability as part of broader systems and operational concepts.
In Finland, the Ministry of Defence acts as the national lead authority for the NIR FC framework. The objective of NIR FC is to establish a national model for innovation testing. It brings together Finnish testing and development environments, technological expertise and other stakeholders whose innovations may be developed into new capabilities for defence and security authorities. Particular emphasis is placed on assessing the interoperability of future communications technologies and autonomous systems.
Millog Helps Transform Innovation into Operational Capability
In recent years, Millog has strengthened its role in supporting the defence and dual-use technology development. The aim is to accelerate the introduction of new capabilities for the Finnish Defence Forces and NATO partners. Millog’s extensive experience in supporting a wide range of defence materiel enables the company to assist developers from a practical operational perspective.
“We help identify the real operational needs and use cases that new solutions must address and provide insight into the requirements of the end-user environment,” says Antti Salonen, Technology and Development Manager at Millog.
Support for innovation development is delivered in close cooperation with Finnish and international defence ecosystems and networks, including participation in NATO initiatives such as the NIR. In addition, Millog provides TEVV services to developers, enabling, for example, innovations to be evaluated in both digital and physical environments that simulate real operational conditions. Equally important is collaboration with end users, ensuring that developers receive up-to-date information and feedback on the suitability of their solutions for the needs of defence and security authorities.
“The true value of an innovation can only be demonstrated through practical testing. When solutions are evaluated in realistic operating conditions, potential shortcomings can be identified at an early stage, development can be accelerated and deployment becomes easier. At the same time, customers gain access to more reliable and effective solutions,” summarises Toni Piispa, Vice President of the Authorities and Industry business unit at Millog.