FACT demonstrates the operational value of federated cyber-physical testing in Riga

The demonstration unfolded through a fictional and politically neutral scenario inspired by realistic operational challenges. Within this scenario, participants were presented with a simulated multinational deployment requiring the assessment of cyber-physical asset readiness and resilience. In light of increasingly interconnected defence systems, FACT demonstrated how federated testing can support more effective decision-making and help assess readiness before deployment.

As cyber activity intensifies, FACT carries out additional checks on the systems and equipment planned for deployment, identifying potential vulnerabilities and verifying that critical systems are functioning reliably. By connecting distributed testing environments and specialised expertise, the project consolidates trusted evidence and provides decision-makers with actionable recommendations to address risks before deployment.

The EoPD guided participants through a series of connected demonstrations, showcasing how FACT links threat identification, federated testing, evidence consolidation and leadership decision-making. The demonstrations illustrated how this approach can support commanders and decision makers in making better-informed decisions about whether assets are ready for deployment.

Ingmārs Pūķis, Vice President of LMT Group, which hosted the demonstration in Riga, said:

"We are pleased to welcome project partners, European Commission representatives, defence stakeholders and representatives from European Ministries of Defence to Riga, Latvia for the FACT End of Project Demonstration. This event showcases how European collaboration can transform complex cyber-physical testing into trusted, actionable insights, helping decision makers assess readiness and strengthen resilience before critical assets are deployed." 

"The true value of this demonstration lies not only in showcasing technological innovation, but also in validating how different capabilities can work together in realistic scenarios. This is essential for building future-ready cyber defence solutions", he added. 

Jon Leistad, Project Coordinator of FACT, KONGSBERG, said:

"The FACT End-of-Project Demonstration provides a tangible illustration of what the EDF project FACT has achieved over three years: delivering a solution that enables defence organisations to understand, preserve, and enhance operational capability when cyber vulnerabilities disrupt complex defence systems. The consortium has established a federated cyber-physical testing capability that generates reliable evidence, robust assessments, and actionable mitigation recommendations. By bringing together findings from distributed Cyber-Physical Test Ranges (CPTRs), FACT transforms complex and fragmented test results into a single, commander-ready picture of cyber-physical readiness.”

Strengthening European cyber defence resilience through cooperation

The End of Project Demonstration highlighted the added value of European cooperation in addressing shared cyber-physical security challenges. By bringing together complementary capabilities, expertise and testing environments, FACT illustrates the potential of a federated European approach to strengthening cyber defence resilience.

About FACT

The Federated Advanced Cyber-Physical Test Range (FACT) project is co-funded by the European Defence Fund (EDF). At the heart of the FACT project lies a federated approach to cyber-physical testing. By connecting distributed Cyber-Physical Test Ranges (CPTRs), the project enables defence stakeholders to draw on specialised expertise and testing capabilities across different environments.

Its secure orchestration and controlled evidence exchange mechanisms support trusted collaboration while preserving the integrity of testing activities and their results.

A project selected by the European Defence Fund 2022

The European Commission has awarded €26.9 million over a three-year period to the FACT project led by Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace AS (KONGSBERG).

The European Defence Fund (EDF) is a financial instrument created by the European Union in 2017 as part of the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). The first call for proposals was published in 2021. FACT is one of the 41 projects selected for the 2022 EDF (out of 134 proposals submitted).