Challenges to national defence in contemporary geopolitical situation

This paper examines the role of training programme accreditation in enhancing interoperability within NATO. A case study of the Slovak JTAC programme supported by SWOT analysis and document review was applied. In this paper we have found that accreditation improves procedural standardisation, technological compatibility and operational performance, while revealing resource and organisational challenges. The study expands understanding of interoperability through a multi-layered framework as a research implication. Recommendations support optimisation of training, resource use and capability development which is a clear practical implication. Originality and value have been achieved by providing a unique empirical view of accreditation as a key tool for strengthening NATO's interoperability.

This paper substantiates the need to standardize terminology governance in the Armed Forces of Ukraine as a strategic component of defence standardization, multilingual military communication, and interoperability. Based on an author-developed draft framework entitled “Terminological Work. Fundamental Principles” the study reconstructs a unified model of terminology management based on the stages of collection, description, processing, and presentation. Particular attention is paid to translation-oriented terminography, terminology databases, and concept harmonization in Ukrainian-English military communication. The article suggests that regulated terminology management improves the quality of standards, translations, doctrinal texts, and digital language resources, thereby strengthening institutional memory, conceptual coherence, and operational compatibility with NATO partners.

The paper examines the role of the University of Defence as the academic engine of a Multi-Domain Concept Centre supporting Multi-Domain Operations in a small-state context. Using document and comparative analysis and stakeholder workshops, it proposes a Concept Development and Experimentation–driven framework integrating doctrine, experimentation, capability planning, and education. Findings show that academic leadership enhances methodological rigor, interoperability, and knowledge transfer. The paper presents an original NATO-aligned model for sustainable multi-domain concept development.

This paper examines the compression of the artillery kill chain in a UAS-saturated battlefield, using the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict (2020) as an empirical case. Based on OSINT analysis, the kill chain is decomposed into measurable phases and their temporal intervals estimated. Results indicate a total duration of 60–120 seconds, making time a dominant tactical constraint. The findings highlight implications for artillery tactics, simulation models, and officer education within Joint Fire Support and Multi-Domain Operations. The study provides a transparent framework linking empirical observations with operational practice.

Organizational processes are often described as being “top-down” or “bottom-up”. At the level of EU integration relations between EU and member-state institutions can also be conceptualized in these terms. European integration is based on decisions made by representatives of its member-states and member-states have a large degree of discretion in the implementation of EU policies. This gives off an appearance of a “bottom-up” quality to pan-European policy. But when it comes to part and parcel of public administration many national government agencies can only perceive this process “top-down”. The complexity of policy design process and absence of co-ordination of how national agencies go about their business means that policy adoption is seldom straightforward across member-states. Once policies are set in motion, there are limited possibilities of review stemming from the “bottom”. In some sense, this is the story of the road to Brexit. The paper claims that current challenges to European integration may in part be attributed to this institutional setup. This paper revisits the concept of European Administrative Space to see if it can be framed in terms of “bottom-up” integration, whereby essentially member states would be encouraged to test their proposed national reforms from the point of view of EUfriendliness. Proliferation of such a practice would not require any major legal change or governance process standardization. With proper monitoring the practice could augment the existing international co-operation between government agencies by opening venues for cost sharing, and streamlining the “top-down” policy decisions once political will becomes available.