Next Generation Dismounted Soldier System (NGDSS) – A PESCO Collaborative Project

About this report

The Next Generation Dismounted Soldier System (NGDSS) is a multinational European defence project launched under the EU’s Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) framework in its sixth wave of initiatives (2025). PESCO aims to deepen defence cooperation among participating EU member states by jointly developing strategic military capabilities.

In line with these goals, NGDSS focuses on equipping the European soldier of the future with advanced integrated systems to enhance combat effectiveness, resilience, and interoperability. The project’s approval in May 2025 brought the total number of PESCO projects to 75, underscoring the EU’s collective commitment to strengthening defence readiness.

Key questions this report answers

• What advanced integrated soldier systems does the NGDSS project aim to develop under the EU's PESCO framework to enhance combat effectiveness, resilience and interoperability?
• How do the participating countries Italy and Latvia contribute to the project's technological and industrial aspects?
• What doctrinal and strategic implications does NGDSS carry for EU land forces?
• What NATO and EU interoperability goals does NGDSS pursue as the 75th PESCO project approved in the sixth wave?

Inside this report

• Introduction and PESCO Context
• Participating Countries: Italy and Latvia
• Military Capability Enhancements Anticipated
• Technological and Industrial Aspects
• Doctrinal and Strategic Implications for EU Land Forces
• Interoperability Goals: NATO and EU Dimensions
• Conclusion
• Download the full report

Who it's for

Strategy, corporate-development and investment teams that need an ecosystem-level view — budgets, industrial capacity and technology landscapes — before committing capital or capacity.

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Methodology, format & delivery

DFM reports are built from primary and official sources — TED procurement notices, CORDIS and the EU Funding & Tenders Portal, EIB operations, the NATO Innovation Fund portfolio, SIPRI data, official budget documents and company disclosures — read together with the underlying legal texts. Sources are cited in the document; it reflects them as of its publication date (02 June 2025). You receive a 19-page PDF, watermarked to you on every page, delivered on the confirmation page and by e-mail immediately after checkout (personal link valid 72 hours, up to 5 downloads). Guest checkout, single-user licence — Terms of Sale.

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