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

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.

This analysis 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?