Interviewee: Dr. Georgios K. Avdikos, Communication and Information Systems Section Manager, INTRACOM DEFENSE S.A.

Role in PROTEAS project: PROTEAS Technical Coordinator

Question: Please describe in a few words the added-value presented by the envisaged PROTEAS outcomes and your view on their possible future adoption.

Dr. Georgios K. Avdikos: The most important added-value which PROTEAS SoS brings to the European defense sector is (for the first time) an easily transportable and deployable SOFCP with advanced command and control (C2), Intelligence and ICT capabilities which can support Special Operations Forces (SOF) in the field with the use of manned/unmanned assets. PROTEAS is a System-of- Systems (SoS) prototype which combines advanced systems with enhanced technical capabilities provided by European partners.  It offers EU strategic autonomy (alternative to non-EU systems), rapid mobility and operational readiness (where no infrastructure exists), interoperability (ensuring seamless data exchange between systems), holistic system of systems (hybrid autonomous power systems, manned and unmanned vehicles (UAV, USV/MSV) for ISR missions, advanced artificial intelligence algorithms and detection technologies for physical security. 

Regarding future adoption prospects of PROTEAS by European armed forces, its dynamics shaping as follows: First, initial, expresses interest by Member States (Co-funding Commitments) -the 5 states that co-finance the project (Greece, France, Italy, Belgium, Norway) are the first “natural”, potential customer. The participation of the Ministries of Defense (MoDs) of these countries in the tests ensures that the system can be adopted by their national Special Operations Forces (SOF), as it is built based on their own precise requirements. Second, due to its modular design, PROTEAS can be gradually adopted by other EU member states that did not participate in its development. That leads to cost reduction: mass production for more than one army reduces acquisition and maintenance costs, making it attractive for smaller European countries that need a ready-made, tested Command Center. Third, operational readiness for the EU Rapid Deployment Capacity (EU RDC). The EU is developing the EU Rapid Deployment Capacity. A transportable and cyber-secure command center like PROTEAS is the ideal tool to support such crisis management missions outside the EU. Finally, the consortium (led by IDE – INTRACOM DEFENSE) has designed the project with market entry in mind after the completion of the tests in November 2026.

Question: Please describe in a few words the challenges that the project must overcome, in order to meet its objectives.

Dr. Georgios K. Avdikos: PROTEAS is a System-of- Systems (SoS) prototype, meaning that many different systems, provided by consortium partners, should be combined and integrated in a way which ensures that the whole SoS will be capable of demonstrating and performing the tasks in an operational environment. Thus, the major challenge was the design of heterogeneous autonomous systems, ensuring secure and resilient communications, achieving interoperability across multinational platforms, maintaining cybersecurity and trustworthiness, and validating complex SoS capabilities in realistic operational environments. It has been approved during the Critical Design Review (CDR) (November 2025, Paris).

The next big challenge has been the prototyping (development) of the interfaces and the successful pre-integration (as part for the prototyping phase) of the systems (deployable facilities, ICT, C2, intelligence platform, manned/unmanned assets) and then, SoS.  Test Readiness Review (TRR) is another important milestone. It took place at the end of May in Athens and feedback received from MoDs has been positive.

Another big challenge is the integration phase (last six months) including successful SoS testing and validation and execution of the use cases on the site (demo). Having limited time and space to execute the demo on the site, such pre-demo activities are necessary, scheduled and executed initially at IDE premises since March 2026 with support from consortium partners. These activities (including testing and troubleshooting) minimize the technical risks and prepare for the successful execution of the demo.

Question: Please describe in a few words the experience of collaborating with several partners, from across Europe, towards a complex common end goal as part of PROTEAS.

Dr. Georgios K. Avdikos: Collaborating with the partners of the EDF PROTEAS project has been a highly rewarding experience, characterized by strong multidisciplinary cooperation, technical excellence, and a shared commitment to achieving the project’s objectives. The consortium brings together leading defense companies, research institutions, and specialized technology providers from several European countries, creating a unique environment for knowledge exchange and innovation.

Throughout the project, partners have worked closely to integrate diverse but complementary technologies, systems and expertise (command and control systems, autonomous platforms, sensing technologies, communications, cybersecurity, and ethical and legal compliance) into a common System-of-Systems (SoS) architecture. This diversity of expertise has strengthened the quality of the project’s outcomes and encouraged innovative approaches to solving complex tasks.

Overall, the experience of collaborating with the PROTEAS partners has been marked by mutual trust, effective teamwork, and a common vision, making the project both professionally enriching and strategically impactful.