FACT

The Federated Advanced Cyber physical Test range (FACT) is a collaborative cybersecurity defence project that aims to deliver a new European capability to test and verify equipment for cyber vulnerabilities. 

The new capability will be built on two key components – an advanced cyber-physical test range and a Europe-wide federated approach. As a result, it will enable more thorough and realistic testing across Europe. FACT will strengthen the EU’s cyber defence capabilities by closing critical gaps and enhancing protection for a wide range of systems, both within and outside European defence.

The growing variety and rapid evolution of cyber threats, coupled with the complex integration of components in military systems, leave European armed forces increasingly exposed. To enhance military systems’ ability to withstand cyber attacks, there is an urgent need to boost cyber defence capabilities and strengthen cooperation between nations. 

The best solution is to unite the forces of European nations to ensure the needed level of control and prevention and reduce the adversarial attack surface. It would enable the creation of a shared European framework, architecture, and toolset for federated cyber testing. Such a strategy includes a united way of conducting tests from different European cyber range environments with different specializations on certain cyber attack types. 

The federation of these capabilities across Europe will improve the coordination of cyber security focus, enhance performance and productivity, reduce risk and cost, and produce much more than the ordinary sum of standalone cyber range environments. Shared services and vast scenario access will simplify cyber range development, allowing partners to focus on their testing expertise. The shared environment will also foster crucial collaboration to outpace evolving cyber threats.

The FACT project involves 19 participating entities, coordinated by Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace. Partners are: Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace AS, Austrian Institute of Technology SIHTASUTUS CR14, Space Hellas, Nokia Bell Labs, Leonardo, Thales Norway, Norges Tekniske og Naturvitenskaplige Universitet, LMT, TERMA AS, certSign SA, Rheinmetall, ELECTRONICS GMBH, Emproof BV, C&V Consulting, Bianor SERVICES EOOD, BALTIJOS PAZANGIU TECHNOLOGIJU INSTITUTAS, Crosshill OY, Approach Belgium SA, and UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI GENOVA. They represent 12 EU Member States and one European associated country.

FACT is co-funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement Nr. 101121335, awarded through the European Defence Fund (EDF) in 2022.