Waking Up Slowly: Defense AI in Spain

In Spain, discussions on defense AI are integrated within the broader national security discourse rather than being a standalone topic. Until around 2020, AI was not a central focus in the Spanish defense ecosystem, but the beginning of the 2020s saw a shift towards specific principles, roadmaps, and initiatives governing AI implementation. Acknowledgment of Spain’s lag in defense AI development highlights the need for improvement to enhance international positioning and competitiveness. The governance system for defense AI involves coordination among relevant institutions, with calls for increased funding, project diversification, and enhanced transparency in project documentation. While few large companies dominate the defense AI market, there is a suggestion to prioritize small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to diversify services and expand market footprint. Defense AI intersects with strategic sectors like aerospace and cybersecurity, necessitating further efforts to synergize with emerging technologies such as quantum computing. Training and human capital development in defense AI are identified as areas needing improvement, with calls for universities to actively include defense AI in their curricula in compliance with national and European regulations and fundamental rights.