FEV Consulting supports established defense players and new market entrants in evaluating, assessing, and industrializing defense-relevant products and capabilities – from market entry strategy and partner selection to system concepts, modular architectures, cost engineering and manufacturing. This includes applications across land systems, naval systems, as well as aerospace, delivered through market and competitive analyses, specifications, cost models, and actionable implementation roadmaps.
INDUSTRies
Defense
How is defense evolving – and why are complexity, speed, and cost becoming the defining challenges?
Defense is entering a new industrial era driven by geopolitical shifts, rising defense spending, and growing demand for sovereign capabilities. Increased investment is attracting new players from industries such as automotive, energy, and advanced manufacturing, while accelerating the transfer of dual-use technologies into defense applications.
At the same time, defense systems are becoming more integrated and technologically complex. Mobility, energy systems, sensors, autonomy, and mission equipment must work together within increasingly sophisticated architectures, creating new engineering and industrialization challenges.
The result is a fundamental tension: systems must be developed faster, scaled more efficiently, and remain affordable despite growing technical complexity. Success increasingly depends on the ability to:
- Design systems that balance performance, cost, and scalability
- Manage complexity through modular architecture and standardized interfaces
- Transfer technologies from adjacent industries into defense-ready solutions
- Align product, industrial, and market strategies with sovereign and export requirements
How does FEV Consulting translate complex defense requirements into scalable, deployable solutions?
FEV Consulting supports clients from market entry strategy through the full development and industrialization cycle – combining top-level strategic decision-making with deep technical expertise in system architecture, powertrain, energy, and modular platform design. This integrated approach ensures that concepts are not only technically feasible but also scalable, cost-efficient, and aligned with real market and operational constraints.
Modular concept & architecture design
FEV Consulting develops defense-relevant system concepts and architectures using structured modular architecture approaches. We translate operational requirements into scalable platform layouts, subsystem integration concepts, and modular architectures that separate mobility, mission, and energy systems. This enables future upgradeability, flexibility, and efficient scaling across multiple applications.
Defense market entry and growth strategy
FEV Consulting supports companies entering or expanding in defense through structured market-entry approaches that evaluate market attractiveness, capability fit, positioning, and partnership strategies. We help clients identify attractive segments, define value propositions, and establish practical entry paths across the defense ecosystem.
Electrified and hybrid energy systems
FEV Consulting supports the selection and integration of electrified and hybrid powertrain concepts based on mission profiles and operational requirements. We evaluate trade-offs between range, endurance, energy availability, signature behavior, and system integration while leveraging proven cross-industry technologies for defense applications.
Cost engineering and affordability design
FEV Consulting applies target-driven cost engineering approaches to ensure systems remain aligned with affordability targets, scalability requirements, and industrial feasibility from the earliest concept phases. Cost considerations are integrated into architecture and design decisions from the beginning rather than addressed later in development.
Industrial ramp-up, localization, and partner strategy
FEV Consulting supports the transition from concept to industrial reality through scalable production concepts, localization approaches, sourcing strategies, and ecosystem development. We help clients expand industrial capacity, integrate non-incumbent players, and create scalable production networks capable of supporting defense growth requirements.
Unmanned systems and automated platforms
FEV Consulting supports the definition and development of unmanned and automated system concepts including UGVs and other UxV platforms. We translate mission requirements into scalable system architectures that integrate powertrain, energy storage, autonomy, payloads, and operational requirements while maintaining modularity and cost efficiency.
Case samples
What typical challenges do clients address with FEV Consulting?
A company wants to develop an unmanned ground system for various use cases
A defense OEM or industrial entrant aims to define a UGV concept for applications such as logistics resupply, surveillance, or support in contested environments. However, platform requirements such as payload, range or automation level are still unclear.
FEV Consulting supports the definition of use cases, system requirements, and architecture concepts, structuring the system into mobility, mission, energy, and control subsystems. This includes layout concepts, powertrain integration strategies, and modular interfaces to enable scalability and future upgrades.
The result is a fully defined system concept, including architecture, specifications, and configuration options that allow informed development and investment decisions.
An OEM wants to integrate hybrid or electrified subsystems into existing vehicle platforms
A defense manufacturer is evaluating how to integrate hybrid or electrified powertrains into legacy or next-generation land platforms. Key challenges include balancing energy demand, thermal management, and integration of new subsystems such as sensors or mission equipment.
FEV Consulting develops electrified and hybrid system architectures, including energy buffering, power distribution, and subsystem integration concepts. The work typically includes trade-off analyses between different architectures and assessment of impacts on operational capabilities such as silent operation or reduced signatures.
The result is a validated architecture concept enabling electrification while maintaining performance, reliability, and upgradeability.
An industrial player wants to enter the defense market with existing technologies
A non-defense company with strong capabilities in areas such as powertrain, electronics, or materials is exploring how to enter the defense sector but lacks clarity on positioning, target segments, and partner landscape.
FEV Consulting conducts market segmentation, defines the client’s value proposition, and identifies relevant entry points within the defense ecosystem. This includes partner screening, evaluation of platform opportunities, and definition of a phased market entry strategy aligned with regulatory and industrial constraints.
The result is a clear, actionable market entry roadmap, including target segments, partners, and a structured approach to building a defense business.
A client needs to design modular platforms that can be adapted across missions and markets
A defense player is developing a new UTV platform but must ensure that it remains adaptable for different missions, customers, and export requirements while controlling complexity and cost.
FEV Consulting defines modular architectures, separating core platform elements from mission-specific modules and defining standardized interfaces across subsystems. This enables flexible configurations, easier upgrades, and alignment with country-specific requirements.
The result is a modular UTV platform concept that balances performance, cost, and adaptability across multiple use cases and markets.
Designing a cost-competitive defense product from the concept phase
A client is developing a new platform or subsystem but faces uncertainty about how to achieve cost targets while maintaining required performance and functionality. Traditional approaches risk identifying cost gaps only in later development phases, leading to redesign loops and delays.
FEV Consulting defines target cost structures early and integrates cost considerations directly into system and concept development. This includes cost breakdowns, design-to-cost approaches, and evaluation of alternative architectures to ensure alignment with affordability targets.
The result is a cost-competitive product concept, where performance, functionality, and cost targets are developed in parallel – enabling robust decisions and avoiding late-stage redesign.
The key to competing in defense today is not reinventing everything from scratch, but translating proven technologies and industrial logic from multiple industries into scalable, defense-ready solutions that balance performance, cost, and adaptability.
Frequently asked questions
Industrial players can contribute to areas such as mobility systems, electrified powertrains, robotics subsystems, and industrialization. The strongest opportunities typically combine existing capabilities with defense-specific requirements such as ruggedization, cost efficiency, and scalability. Success depends on identifying where existing know-how creates a differentiated, system-level contribution.
Automotive OEMs can reuse core elements such as chassis, powertrains, electronics, and supply chains to accelerate entry. However, these platforms must be adapted with regards to compatibility with defense fuels (e.g., EGR removal because of high sulfur fuel), increased robustness (e.g., more severe inclination), and integration of mission and autonomy systems. FEV Consulting supports this transition by combining cross-industry expertise with defense-specific system requirements. A structured separation between mobility, mission, and energy systems is key to enabling flexibility and upgradeability.
Initial use cases should focus on scenarios with clear operational value and scalability, such as logistics support, casualty evacuation, and exploration. These applications require robust mobility, reliable communication, and flexible payload integration. Prioritization should balance technical feasibility, cost, and deployment potential, taking e.g., payload, range and speed requirements as well as rough terrain capabilities into account.
Scaling requires designing for manufacturability and cost from the beginning, rather than adapting complex systems later. Standardized interfaces, modular subsystems, and flexible production setups are critical. FEV Consulting helps clients define industrialization, localization, and ecosystem strategies that align sovereign requirements with scalable production concepts.
Modularity allows platforms to adapt to changing missions, technologies, and customer requirements without full redesign. It supports faster upgrades, export flexibility, and reduced lifecycle costs. As system complexity increases, modular architectures become essential to manage integration and maintain scalability.
Hybrid and electrified systems enable capabilities such as silent operation, reduced signatures, and increased onboard power for sensors and mission systems. They also improve flexibility in energy management and system integration. Drawing on experience from multiple industries, FEV Consulting helps clients evaluate and integrate electrified and hybrid powertrain systems aligned with operational and platform requirements.
Companies must design platforms with a common core architecture that can be adapted to country-specific requirements. This involves modular design, early consideration of regulatory constraints, and flexible localization concepts. FEV Consulting supports clients in balancing sovereignty, scalability, and market access to maintain competitiveness across multiple regions.
Successful partnerships combine complementary capabilities across platform development, subsystem expertise, and system integration. They enable access to markets, share development risk, and accelerate industrialization. FEV Consulting supports the identification and assessment of suitable partners to build scalable ecosystems rather than isolated product propositions.
Underutilized capacities can be leveraged if existing capabilities are aligned with defense requirements, including specific standards, qualification processes, and security constraints. This typically requires targeted adaptation of products, processes, and supply chains. FEV Consulting helps identify suitable entry points and assess how existing industrial capabilities can be integrated into the defense value chain, for example through the production of platforms, subsystems, or components.
Get in contact
with our team
Dr. Andreas
Wiartalla
Wiartalla
Director and Expert in Defense
Igor
Hazanavicius
Hazanavicius
Senior Manager and Expert in Defense
Michael
Reinhold
Reinhold
Senior Manager and Expert in Defense
