Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Winning with Defence Tech

Kyrylo Martyniuk and Rasmus Basilier discuss the realities of drone warfare in Ukraine, based on his recent time on the front lines and work in defense technology.

They explore how Ukrainian forces use video interceptors to see the same feed as Russian drone pilots, the practical tactics for surviving FPV and fiber optic drone attacks while driving, and the trade-offs between shotguns and rifles for anti-drone defense. Kyrylo shares what actually works in the field — from high-speed evasion to knowing when to abandon a vehicle.

The conversation also covers broader developments in the Ukrainian army: recent reforms, the growing role of unmanned ground vehicles, AI-assisted targeting and interception systems, and the push toward greater robotization of combat tasks.

Kyrylo explains the current limitations and future potential of fiber optic drones, why they remain difficult to counter, and the engineering challenges involved in making them more reliable. He discusses how Ukrainian units are developing their own solutions on the brigade level and what lessons could be applied elsewhere.

They talk about the value of practical experience accumulated over years of adaptation, training programs for drone operators, and how European forces might better integrate real-world knowledge from Ukraine.

A grounded, detailed look at modern warfare, technology, and the human decisions shaping the conflict.

Listen to understand the tactical and technical realities that define the fighting in Ukraine today.

Kyrylo's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyrylo-martyniuk-5b223a2a5/

Rasmus' Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rasmusbasilier/

He is a senior officer in the Swiss army’s drone and robotic division, red teaming specialist, and founder of a company focused on transformation capabilities and wargaming in defense tech.

Gregory explains how he stress-tests military technology by asking one core question: “How can the enemy defeat this?”

Drawing on lessons from the war in Ukraine and modern drone warfare, he discusses why many defense startups and traditional forces face challenges when new technology meets real battlefield conditions. He outlines a practical methodology for red teaming and wargaming, the kill chain framework, and how to identify vulnerabilities in your product before deployment.

You’ll learn:

• Why brute force thinking often falls short and the importance of considering the opponent’s perspective
• How to role-play as the enemy using OSINT and structured scenarios
• The difference between focused red teaming and large-scale wargaming
• Why elements like camouflage and counter-UAS systems are increasingly critical
• Key realities about how current conflicts are unfolding

This conversation offers a clear framework for evaluating defense technology with intellectual honesty and strategic depth. Whether you work in defense tech, strategy, or are interested in the future of warfare, it provides useful insights into building more resilient solutions.

Gregory shares practical experience from someone actively working in the field.

Wondering how to grow your defence company in terms of innovation, testing or other support? How to accelerate growth? Rasmus haas the answers!Rasmus Basilier works for Millog, the company we usually know from logistics, but that also helps smaller companies grow. We talk to Rasmus about defence innovation, Ukraine, the innovation cycle, what actions can small companies take to grow and what it's like to work in defence tech.We need more defence innovation in Finland! Learn more about how Millog helps companies grow and how they work together with the Finnish Defence Forces.Do you need help, consulting or ideas for your defence innovation? Contact Rasmus!Rasmus.Basilier@millog.filinkedin.com/in/rasmusbasilierhttps://millog.fi/‪@MillogGroup‬ Mighty Finland vaatteet: https://www.photonresearchgroup.fi/pa...Toivo Tornion Panimon ja meidän M/25 Olutta K-kauppaasi: https://www.k-ruoka.fi/artikkelit/k-k...Taistelijan Lehtiö: https://varusteleka.com/products/migh...Mighty Finland Podcastia tehdään meidän mahtavien yhteistyökumppaneiden kanssa:Varusteleka - Reserviläisen karkkikauppa ja meidän luotettu huoltopiste jo vuosien ajan - https://www.varusteleka.fi/fi ‪@varusteleka‬ Savotta - Parhaat kantojärjestelmät sekä muita varusteita maanpuolustukseen ja ulkona liikkumiseen - https://www.savotta.fi/ ‪@Savotta‬ Savox - Kriittisen kommunikaation kärkiosaaja. Never Alone. - https://savox.com/ ‪@SavoxCommunications‬ Kova kunto lisää mielen rohkeutta! Koodilla "Mighty" saat 10% irti Korpitraining valmennuksista tän linkin takaa: https://korpitraining.fi?bg_ref=s3uUb...Ota meihin yhteyttä Instagramin directissä tai laita mailia osoitteeseen info@mightyfinland.fi jos sulla on aiheideoita, ajatuksia vieraista tai muuten vaan rakentavaa palautetta.

Insights from the fall of Pokrovsk w. Oleksandr Matviienko from Counteroffensive Pro

Takeaways (generated by AI, I'm not impressed.. ;) The episode is much better)

The introduction of drone technology has shifted the dynamics of warfare.

Night operations in drone warfare are currently limited.

There is a significant gap in night drone strike capabilities.

Elvinas's technology aims to bridge the gap in night operations.

Increasing production to supply front lines is a priority.

The conversation highlights the need for innovation in military technology.

Drones have changed how conflicts are fought, similar to past technological advancements.

The potential for detailed FPV strikes at night could change engagement strategies.

Understanding the limitations of current drone operations is crucial.

The future of warfare may heavily rely on advancements in drone technology.

The conversation w. Yuri Kozik from Resist Labs explores the complexities of modern warfare strategies, particularly focusing on the use of drones and the need for diverse tactical approaches. It highlights the challenges posed by decoy drones and the implications for anti-aircraft defenses.

Takeaways

There is no single path and there is no single strategy.

Multiple paths and strategies can be used simultaneously.

Drones can be used in various ways to confuse defenses.

Decoy drones complicate the identification of real threats.

Exhausting anti-aircraft resources is a significant concern.

Defensive capabilities can be exposed through tactical maneuvers.

Understanding drone tactics is crucial for modern warfare.

The use of Gerbera drones adds complexity to air defense.

Military strategies must adapt to evolving technologies.

Effective defense requires a multifaceted approach.

Insights from military reservist with deep knowledge of NATO operations.

Insights from the Ukranian front w. Yuri Kozik, Chief Business Development Officer at Resist Labs.

• Why drone swarms are still limited on the battlefield

• The spectrum challenge: interference and vulnerability to jamming

• AI’s current limits in computer vision and tactical decision-making

• The cost trade-off: cheap disposable drones vs. expensive autonomous systems

• How Shaheds and decoys act as “swarms” without coordination

• Fiber-optic drones: jam-proof advantages and real-world limitations

• The evolution from Bayraktars to FPVs, Mavics, and UGVs

• How Ukrainian commanders adapt differently — from motorcycles to UGVs

• Western vs. Ukrainian innovation cycles and the importance of cost

• What’s next: integrating UAVs, UGVs, and limited AI in future battlefields

https://www.linkedin.com/in/iurii-kozik/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/resistlabs/

Interview by Rasmus Basilier,

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rasmusbasilier/

Persistent surveillance is no longer a future capability. It is becoming an operational necessity.

In our latest podcast conversation with the team at Marble, we explored one of the biggest gaps in maritime and Arctic security: the lack of continuous situational awareness across critical infrastructure, sea lanes, and remote operating environments.

Traditional systems can provide snapshots. Satellites pass overhead. Aircraft can be deployed when something happens. But neither creates true persistence.

Marble is approaching the problem differently.

By combining autonomous high speed drones with localized hangar infrastructure, their system is designed to deliver continuous coverage across vast maritime areas. The result is the ability to monitor up to 15,000 square kilometers per day while maintaining rapid response and autonomous redeployment.

This is not just about drones. It is about rethinking how nations, operators, and organizations protect cables, coastlines, shipping routes, and critical assets in an increasingly contested environment.

A fascinating discussion on defence innovation, autonomous systems, and the future of maritime surveillance.

Krists is an Entrepreneur in Residence at Unilab Defense — a NATO DIANA acceleration site — and the founder of a new defense tech startup building agentic soldier augmentation systems. He’s evaluated hundreds of defense startups and worked closely with both European innovation programs and Ukrainian forces on the frontline.

In this conversation, we go deep into why brilliant technology often dies in the gap between the lab and the battlefield. Krists breaks down the massive mismatch between how civilian founders think and how military end-users actually operate.

What You’ll Discover:

- The single biggest reason most defense tech startups never get traction

- How military buyers really think — long time horizons, risk, credibility, and why they still use 70s-80s era equipment

- Why Ukraine has become the ultimate testing ground for modern warfare technology

- Practical ways for founders to understand real Concept of Operations (CONOPS) and speak the military’s language

- The brutal economics of defense tech: long sales cycles, iteration speed, capital requirements, and survivability

- What’s coming next after drones — human-machine teaming, mass manufacturing, and the future battlefield

- How to actually get access to real end-users in Europe and Ukraine

If you’re building anything in defense, dual-use, deep tech, or government-adjacent spaces this episode is for you

In this episode, Rasmus sits down with Gregor Zupin, founder of Microbium, to explore how modern militaries can solve one of their most persistent and dangerous challenges: ensuring access to safe drinking water during operations.

When military units move into new areas, water sources — whether streams, springs, or building pipelines — are often contaminated with bacteria like E. coli or Legionella. These pathogens can’t be detected by smell, taste, or appearance, yet they can cause outbreaks that sideline soldiers within just 1–5 days.

Gregor explains why the traditional lab-based testing process is too slow and impractical for fast-moving or forward-deployed forces: samples must be collected, shipped to external labs, cultured for days, and results communicated back — all while units are on the move.

Microbium’s innovative MPN Analyzer changes this. It’s a compact, battery-powered “lab-in-a-box” that delivers lab-accurate results for total coliforms and E. coli in as little as 8 hours. No microbiologist required — any soldier can perform the test on-site.

Gregor shares real-world insights from field trials with the NATO Center of Excellence for Mountain Warfare in the Alps, where scouts tested 60 water sources ahead of unit movement. Shockingly, several sources failed military and national safety standards, highlighting how common the risk truly is.

The conversation also covers valuable feedback from the defense sector, upcoming product improvements (ruggedization, temperature control, and potential integrated disinfection), and how Microbium’s technology could extend beyond water testing to other microbiological challenges in the field.

If you’re interested in defense innovation, force protection, or practical solutions for operational readiness, this episode is a must-listen.

Key Topics:

• The hidden dangers of water contamination in military operations
• Why traditional lab testing fails in dynamic environments
• How the MPN Analyzer enables rapid, on-site water quality testing
• Real results from NATO mountain warfare trials
• Future applications in disinfection and soldier health

Check out Microbium and their groundbreaking work in making water testing fast, accurate, and field-ready.

Gregor Zupin

Experienced Chief Executive Officer with a demonstrated history of working in the field of industrial microbiology and sales. Skilled in Laboratory Devices, Entrepreneurship, Quality Assurance, Molecular Biology. Strong business development professional graduated from COTRUGLI Business School. https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregorzupin/

In this episode, Rasmus sits down with Kanjan Desai, CEO and co-founder of Alchemy, a Canadian nanotechnology company revolutionizing thermal camouflage for modern warfare.

Khanjan explains the limitations of today's legacy thermal camouflage—shiny metallized fabrics that are unbreathable, cause "bleed-through" as they heat up, and create unnatural reflections easily spotted by drones and sensors. Alchemy's breakthrough Crypsis Class nanoparticle platform embeds into textiles, paints, and films to reflect body heat while diffusely scattering environmental reflections—making soldiers, weapons, and vehicles blend seamlessly into their surroundings like a "really shitty mirror" that looks just like a rock or the ground.

The conversation dives into:

• How nanotechnology enables breathable, scalable thermal signature management without the sauna-like discomfort of traditional solutions.
• Real-world battlefield challenges in sensor-saturated environments (as seen in Ukraine).
• Applications for uniforms, ghillie suits, sniper gear, vehicles, and more—improving stealth, first-strike capability, and mission survivability.
• The shift toward hyperspectral imaging and autonomous targeting, and why Alchemy is engineering signatures for the future, not just today's thermal cameras.

Khanjan also shares candid insights on scaling a defense tech startup: navigating opaque procurement processes, prioritizing markets (starting with Canada and eastern flank NATO allies), the power of networks and advisors, lessons from the NATO DIANA accelerator, and why focus beats trying to "win everywhere" when opportunities flood in.

From early struggles in automotive nanocoatings to securing major defense contracts and a $6M raise, this is a raw look at building dual-use deep tech in a high-stakes sector.

Guest: Khanjan Desai – CEO & Co-Founder, Alchemy

https://www.linkedin.com/in/khanjandesai/

Alchemy: alchemynano.com (or link your site)

In this episode, I sit down with Farid Singh from Nexwin — a seasoned investor, engineer, and operator specializing in defense and dual-use cybersecurity. With 38 investments, over 55 deals, and more than 100 investment committees under his belt, Farid shares hard-earned insights for startups in the defense and security space.

We dive into:

• Farid’s unconventional (and controversial) take on patents in defense — and why they can sometimes hurt more than help
• Why 18 months is the ideal runway for early-stage defense startups
• How to use capital as “gasoline on the fire” rather than just survival money
• Why showing real progress and execution matters more than perfect numbers in the beginning
• How to leverage the current window in Ukraine and Europe for fast product testing and validation
• The importance of choosing investors and advisors who actually understand the vertical
• Building the right team and gaining market access in a highly nationalistic and slow-moving industry

Farid blends sharp advice from both the investor and builder perspective, with real-world stories — including early wins, tough rejections, and what separates serious founders from the rest.

One of the most valuable episodes yet for anyone building or investing in deep tech, dual-use, or defense-related startups in 2026.

Perfect listening if you want to understand how to navigate the new reality of European defense innovation.

About Farid Singh (from his LinkedIn):

Curious by nature. Relentless in execution. I build products and scale innovation across continents, industries, and technologies.

With 13+ years in product leadership and a unique blend of Venture Capital, Startup, Defence, and Telecom experience, I transform ideas and research into market-winning solutions. As a VP Product, I’ve delivered and launched products spanning 5 continents, investing and advising at the intersection of tech, security, and innovation and mentoring over 200 startups (and conducting diligence for 150+ more).

I have invested in 38 companies and have 50+ deals so far. Known for synthesizing big-picture vision with tactical drive, I thrive on challenges that demand cross-disciplinary thinking—from wireless and edge computing to AI, IoT, and emerging tech. Whether inspiring intrapreneurship in Fortune 500s, keynoting global conferences, or deploying innovation programs at scale, I bring creative energy and a bias for action.

Outside work? I’ve traveled to 63+ countries, research corporate happiness, and can outspin you on a salsa floor.I love connecting with fellow innovators and outliers. Looking for a mentor, advisor, or senior executive to collaborate on products that haven’t been invented yet? Message me and let’s make something remarkable happen.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/farid-singh-823b391/

ps. huge thank you to UniLab in Latvia for the podcast setup!

- Multi-band frequency agility, rapid band/channel switching,

spectrum scanning,

- Spoofing techniques to mask actual operating frequencies (my personal favourite), and

- Dual-radio configurations for redundancy and throughput optimization in mesh/relay networks.

Amol Parikh⁠ from ⁠Doodle Labs⁠ explains all these concepts (and more) in the latest podcast.

If you want to understand how electronic communications works in the modern battlefield, this episode is for you.

NATO DIANA innovator Roope Marttila shares his insights from his participation, what is the current state of nuclear reactors on ships and where things are going.

In this podcast episode, Colin Brown interviews Rasmus Basilier, a prominent figure in the defense technology space. Rasmus shares his journey from a childhood dream of becoming a soldier to his current role in defense accelerators and technology validation. The conversation explores the evolving defense ecosystem in Europe, the impact of the Ukraine war on military strategies, and the challenges of procurement in the defense sector. Rasmus emphasizes the importance of validation and testing for defense technologies, the role of logistics and economics in warfare, and the current investment landscape in defense startups. He also highlights innovative companies making strides in the defense space and concludes with thoughts on the future of defense technology and national security.