NATO’s capacity to deter and defend rests on its ability to build a decisive advantage, adapting faster than its adversaries to consistently stay ahead. That means identifying the capabilities Allies need, but also finding faster, more effective and more affordable ways to deliver them.
That is the purpose of Force Lethality Enhancement (FLE) and its follow-on effort, Force Lethality Enhancement eXtended (FLEX).
From Analysis to Options
FLE began as a focused effort to explore alternative ways to deliver military effect in areas where NATO and Allies face demanding capability challenges. It used analysis, modelling and simulation, and expert input to identify and evaluate different combinations of people, platforms, systems and emerging technologies.
FLEX builds on that work in 2026 by expanding the number of projects and organizing them into a series of “sprints”. Each sprint brings together studies designed to move quickly from a capability problem to a set of credible options Allies can consider.
The goal is not to make procurement decisions for nations. Those decisions remain sovereign national choices. Instead, FLEX gives Allies a better menu of options by identifying approaches that may improve lethality, speed, cost-effectiveness, interoperability and operational utility.
A Faster Way to Project Capability Needs
“The sprint approach ensures FLEX delivers validated capability options at the speed required by Allies,” said Rick Perks, FLEX Programme Manager. “By grouping projects into compressed 90-day cycles from contract to delivery, we have broken past traditional procurement timelines. We are rapidly turning current and emerging operational capability needs into actionable, simulation-validated options to support Allies’ decision making.”
The first FLEX sprint has now been completed, with its outcomes captured in a final report and briefed through NATO channels. The work examined three areas: Multi-Domain Precision Strike; Command, Control, Communications and Computers (C4) Architecture for Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), and Robotics in Land Warfare.
What the First Sprint Examined
The Multi-Domain Precision Strike project examined new ways NATO could deliver precision military effects in contested environments across domains. The project identified new capability options Allies could consider to deliver lethal effects, while reducing risks and cost. Options included combinations of traditional strike effectors and autonomous mass.
The C4 Architecture for ASW project was built on earlier FLE work that identified military (and civilian) crewed and uncrewed capability mixes to establish effective ASW barriers in harsh environments. The FLEX C4 ASW project focused on connectivity and integration of the barrier elements. It examined how the elements can be better connected into wider command-and-control architectures, supporting more effective barriers. The outputs of both the FLE and FLEX projects are being carried forward into the Task Force X Arctic live demonstration project.
The Robotics in Land Warfare project looked at how automation, artificial intelligence, sensors, robotic systems and uncrewed platforms could strengthen the artillery ammunition-to-effect chain. In practical terms, it explored how emerging technologies can increase the effectiveness, speed, and survivability of existing systems rather than replacing them outright.
Continuing the Effort with the Second and Third Sprints
A second sprint is now moving toward the final stages of contract delivery, assessment and report development, with completion expected later this summer. It examines the cost-exchange ratio for integrated air and missile defence, suppression of enemy air defences, and space-enabled persistent air and missile detection.
Early insights point to the value of better sensor-to-shooter connections, resilient command-and-control data networks, and high-low mixes of crewed, uncrewed, legacy and emerging systems.
Contracting preparations are also underway for the third sprint of 2026. Current topics, primarily driven by Allies’ requests include technology-enabled combat and combat service support functions in the land domain at division and brigade level, a NATO lethal light or medium brigade concept, and collaborative combat aircraft.
Reflecting the importance and priority of integrated air and missile defence, additional projects will run in parallel with the third sprint. This expansion broadens our current baseline from the second sprint to include European operational views, industrial expertise, and operational research perspectives into a comprehensive framework. This will help NATO compare different approaches, identify areas of common value, and develop a broader understanding of options that could benefit all Allies.
Supporting Rapid Adoption
FLEX is also strengthening the way its projects are conducted. By working with stakeholders across the Alliance, the programme is building a more credible and repeatable way to identify, assess and compare capability options.
That confidence helps Allies turn FLEX analysis into better-informed national decisions on future capability development.
FLEX operates in parallel with the NATO capability delivery pathways, helping NATO and Allies understand which options have the most promise as early as possible to support national decisions on what to develop, buy or implement to deliver their capability targets. In doing so, FLE and FLEX support NATO’s broader rapid adaptation effort. They help the Alliance move faster from capability need to credible choice and give Allies more ways to deliver the military advantage NATO requires.