Britain has unveiled a new battlefield command system named “Asgard”, blending powerful strike capabilities with real-time targeting intelligence—an approach that reflects lessons learned from Ukraine’s war against Russia, Ukrainian defense media Defense Express reported on July 23.
Named after the mythological Norse city of the gods, Asgard serves as the UK military’s high-tech counterpart to Ukraine’s Kropyva, a battlefield command system used widely by the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
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But British developers have taken it further by linking Asgard not only to M270 multiple-launch rocket systems, but also to the new Dart 250 loitering munition—a jet-powered suicide drone first revealed in late 2024.
This pairing, Defense Express noted, represents a shift in how advanced militaries are enhancing strike capabilities: focusing less on raw firepower and more on accelerating target data exchange and integrating emerging weapons systems.
Defence Secretary John Healey (2R) is shown a Modini Dart 250 One way Effector jet drone as he visits Warminster Garrison on June 3, 2025, in Warminster, United Kingdom. (Source: Getty Images)
According to Army Recognition, the Asgard system has already completed field testing during military exercises in Estonia. Results showed a notable improvement in the accuracy of long-range strikes and faster deployment of field units.
System developers claim Asgard could improve the UK military’s combat effectiveness “by up to 10 times” over the next decade.
The system integrates “sensors, surveillance equipment, automated data systems, real-time data analytics, and connected weapon platforms,” they said.
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The UK Ministry of Defence plans to spend $1,35 billion on military digitization through 2027, with Asgard at the center of that transformation.
Officials stress that Ukraine’s “sensor-to-shooter” targeting model—which combines live reconnaissance data with fast-strike capability—was a direct inspiration.
Ukrainian forces have used the domestically developed Kropyva system since 2014, when it was first introduced as a volunteer initiative by Army SOS. Kropyva connects ground units, artillery, and command staff through real-time mapping and battlefield analytics, and is credited with cutting artillery deployment time and enhancing coordination between infantry, armor, and reconnaissance units.
A graphic depicting Kropyva Command and Control system. ISource: Army SOS)
Kropyva has since become a cornerstone of Ukraine’s battlefield command infrastructure and is NATO-classified as a C2 (command and control) system. The British Asgard system appears to follow that model—but with deeper integration of drone-based strike platforms like Dart 250.
Beyond technical upgrades, the British Army’s Asgard project reflects a broader doctrinal alignment with US and NATO strategies: creating highly digitized, AI-driven ecosystems for battlefield management and ensuring future weapons platforms—both traditional and experimental—can operate interchangeably within a single data-sharing network.
Бойова система управління тактичної ланки “Кропива” на службі ЗСУ та НГУ (фото)https://t.co/3Z2U8QYnai pic.twitter.com/0gFjmybnQY
— DEFENSE EXPRESS (@DEFENSEEXPRESS) July 7, 2020
Earlier, reports emerged that General Alexus G. Grynkewich, the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), urged NATO members must accelerate the pace of military innovation and draw lessons from Ukraine’s rapid integration of new technologies.
“The speed of technological adaptation shown by Ukraine during full-scale war should be the benchmark for NATO countries,” Grynkewich said, citing Ukraine’s success in deploying drones, digital platforms, and new strike systems in record time.
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