Cyber Infrastructure for Training in Advanced Defence Exercises and Learning

CITADEL Range seeks to upgrade European defence technology in the field of cyber ranges. The vision is built on the strategic shift in the EU’s cyber defence agenda where a clear move has taken place from cyber responsive operations to full spectrum cyber defence operations. Given this, the next-generation cyber range modular products and concepts aim to provide tailored solutions for the entire value chain of cyber forces. This means that the focus is set strongly on 1) the needs of the EU and its Member States, and 2) the needs of holistic cyber defence as opposed to civilian cyber security.

The project delivers a selection of advanced capabilities that enable cyber forces to conduct training, exercising, and mission rehearsal in realistic and cost-efficient environments purpose-built for cyber operations - be it national exercises for civil-military cooperation, multi-national exercises for rehearsing common mission execution or EU-wide training events coordinated by the EDA that enhance interoperability and promote seamless information-sharing within the Union. The project shall not deliver a new or standalone cyber range, it delivers technological tools and frameworks that complement already existing cyber ranges in national defence structures. The solutions are modular and thereby any individual result of the project can be used independently of others.

The solutions cover aspects such as cross-border classified exercises; realistic cyber operations toolkits and processes; and integration of cyber within MDO exercises. To better deliver these benefits, the project leverages technologies such as digital twins and AI that enable to create more realistic environments with less resources (time, money, people). All of this is built on top of a common domain-specific language and supported by EU-wide cyber range capability and trainee accreditation frameworks.

The CITADEL Range project is financed by the European Commission through the European Defence Fund under grant: 101224382.