Advancing Winter Mountain Warfare: Equipment, Technology and Tactical Innovation for Future Operations

Aim:

This workshop provides a dedicated platform for advancing the future of winter mountain warfare. Bringing together specialists from the military, industry, and research communities, it explores the latest developments in winter-capable equipment, cutting-edge technologies, and modern tactical procedures designed for extreme cold, deep snow, and high-alpine conditions. By combining operational experience with emerging innovations, the workshop aims to identify current capability gaps, evaluate field-tested solutions, and outline coherent pathways for future development. The insights generated will support more effective training, education, and operational planning, ensuring that soldiers and units are better equipped, more resilient, and tactically prepared for the complex demands of winter mountain operations.

Objectives:

• Identify and evaluate next-generation winter-capable mountain warfare equipment
  Assess how new materials, clothing systems, mobility aids, personal gear, and protection systems perform under real winter conditions in high-alpine terrain.
• Assess technological innovations for extreme cold, snow, and high-mountain environments
  Examine sensors, drones, communications systems, navigation tools, power solutions, survival systems, and automated technologies for their operational maturity and limitations.
• Analyze the operational added value for soldiers, small units, and complex winter operations
  Determine how new equipment and technologies enhance command and control, mobility, situational awareness, endurance, and safety in harsh mountain winter environments.
• Review current tactical procedures and identify gaps in winter mountain doctrine
  Compare existing SOPs and TTPs with current operational challenges to identify where adaptations are required and how new capabilities can enable improved procedures.
• Examine capability gaps and develop recommendations for future requirements
  Consolidate insights from exercises, field tests, and operational experience to define future capability needs for winter mountain operations.
• Integrate perspectives from industry, research, and the military
  Align technological feasibility, tactical relevance, and logistical considerations through a multi-stakeholder evaluation process.
• Support systematic enhancement of training, education, and operational planning
  Derive how new capabilities can be incorporated into training programs, course design, winter-specific instruction modules, and operational planning frameworks.

Activities:

Workshop and field training

Participants:

SME from Mountain Warfare Schools, Mountain Units, and experts from Civilian Organizations.

Event fee:

150 EURO

Project Officer:

LTC Marcus STURM
Branch Head
Doctrine & Standardization Branch