Bittium Licenses SDR Tech to Indra in Major European Defense Deal

OULU, FINLAND – December 29, 2025 – In a significant move set to reshape a corner of the European defense technology landscape, Finnish secure communications specialist Bittium Corporation has signed a landmark agreement to license its advanced tactical radio technology to Spanish defense and technology giant Indra Group. The deal, announced today, includes an immediate purchase order worth €50 million and signals a strategic shift for Bittium, expanding its global footprint through a new technology-licensing business model.

The agreement has already had a significant positive effect on Bittium's financial outlook, prompting the company to issue a positive profit warning for 2025. Beyond the initial order, the collaboration is projected to hold an additional value of approximately €70 million over the next decade, contingent on the partnership unfolding as currently forecasted. This partnership underscores a growing trend in the defense sector towards national industrial sovereignty, enabled by technology transfer between trusted allied partners.

Sovereign Communications for Spain

Under the terms of the agreement, Indra will leverage Bittium’s cutting-edge Tough SDR (Software-Defined Radio) platform to develop and manufacture a new line of sovereign tactical communication systems. This grants Spain the ability to produce its own high-performance handheld, vehicular, and manpack radios, securing its national supply chain for critical military equipment. The focus will primarily be on fulfilling the needs of the Spanish Armed Forces, with the potential for the agreement to extend to other international markets in the future.

The concept of "sovereign" production is increasingly vital for nations seeking to maintain control over their defense capabilities, reduce reliance on foreign suppliers, and ensure the security and integrity of their communication networks. By licensing its technology, Bittium facilitates this goal for Spain while simultaneously embedding its platform within a key European NATO member's defense industrial base. The transfer of the Tough SDR technology is already underway, marking a swift start to this long-term strategic cooperation.

Bittium has clarified that this licensing deal will not detract from its existing business. The company will continue the development and global supply of its own portfolio of tactical communication products, which are already in service with the armed forces of several nations, including Finland, Estonia, Austria, and Croatia.

The Strategic Power of Software-Defined Radio

At the heart of this agreement is Software-Defined Radio technology, a transformative force in modern military communications. Unlike traditional hardware-based radios, which are built for a specific purpose and frequency, SDRs are highly flexible and reconfigurable. Their functionality is determined by software, allowing them to be updated, upgraded, and adapted to new threats, waveforms, and operational requirements without replacing the physical hardware. This provides a future-proof solution that can evolve alongside battlefield needs.

Bittium's Tough SDR platform is designed for the harsh and demanding conditions of tactical environments. It enables the creation of a modular, IP-based backbone network that provides resilient, high-performance voice and data communications across different military branches and domains. For soldiers on the ground, in vehicles, or at command posts, this means seamless and secure connectivity, which is fundamental to information superiority and operational effectiveness. Indra’s new line of radios, built on this proven foundation, will provide Spanish forces with this next-generation capability.

In a statement, Bittium Corporation's CEO, Petri Toljamo, emphasized the significance of the agreement. "This agreement demonstrates strong confidence in the excellence of our software-defined radio technology," he said. "The new business model, in which we license our technology, enables countries that require sovereign modern tactical radios to use our technology. This expands significantly the global reach of our technology and products to countries with strong defense industry champions."

Deepening European Defense Integration

This licensing deal is not the first collaboration between Bittium and Indra. The two companies have previously worked together as parts of the a4ESSOR (Alliance for ESSOR) joint venture. This consortium, composed of leading European tactical communications firms, was established to develop the ESSOR (European Secure SOftware-defined Radio) waveform, a technology designed to enable interoperability among the armed forces of different European nations.

The ESSOR High Data Rate Waveform has since achieved a major milestone by being adopted by NATO as a standard for tactical land communications (STANAG 5651). This ensures that military units from different allied countries using ESSOR-compliant radios can communicate directly and securely on the battlefield, a critical capability for coalition operations.

The technology Bittium is licensing to Indra is fully compatible with the ESSOR waveform. This context elevates the agreement beyond a simple bilateral commercial deal; it is a direct contribution to the broader NATO goal of enhancing military interoperability. As Indra develops its sovereign radios for Spain, they will be built from the ground up to be compatible with this crucial alliance-wide standard, strengthening not only Spain's defense posture but also its ability to operate seamlessly with its partners. The foundation for this major agreement was laid earlier in the year, with a Letter of Intent for strategic cooperation signed by the two companies on July 18, 2025, signaling a planned deepening of their established relationship. This final agreement solidifies that intent, turning strategic vision into a tangible, high-value industrial partnership.