Defense & Security

The world is changing fast. Threats are more complex, more connected, and harder to anticipate than ever before. Protecting people, infrastructure, and sovereignty demands systems that don't fail — and partners who understand what's truly at stake.

Defense

Protected, secure, safe

The nature of defense has shifted. Today's challenges aren't only fought on traditional battlefields — they play out across digital networks, maritime borders, critical infrastructure, and command centres under pressure. Being ready means having the right technology, built to the highest standards, before you need it.

For over two decades, Critical Software has worked alongside defense forces, coast guards, navies, and government agencies to build the systems they depend on. Not off-the-shelf tools, but mission-critical software engineered to perform in environments where failure is not an option.

Our work is guided by deep technical expertise, rigorous safety and security standards, and a genuine understanding of the operational realities our partners face. From anticipating threats to coordinating responses, we help defense and homeland security organizations stay ahead — protecting what matters most.

Some of the brands that trust us

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Our solutions

How we support you

No two defense organizations face identical challenges. We bring a broad set of capabilities so we can meet you where you are — and build what you actually need.

Software & Product Development

From embedded systems to advanced user interfaces, we design and develop software built to operate reliably in the most demanding defence environments — meeting the highest safety and quality standards throughout.

Safety Assessments & Cyber Security

As threats evolve, so must defenses. We provide comprehensive gap analysis, security assessments, and penetration testing to identify vulnerabilities before they can be exploited — keeping critical systems and sensitive data secure.

Verification & Validation

When lives depend on your systems working correctly, there's no room for assumptions. Our independent V&V services and test automation give you the confidence that every component performs exactly as required.

Systems Migration

Modernizing legacy infrastructure without disrupting active operations is one of defence's hardest challenges. We plan and execute migrations carefully, ensuring continuity, security, and full compliance at every step.

Reverse Engineering & Integration

Complex defense environments often mean integrating decades of legacy systems with modern platforms. We bridge that gap — reverse engineering existing architectures and delivering seamless, robust system integration.

Oversee

Maritime Security Operations

An award-winning maritime security platform built to give operators a complete, real-time picture — and the tools to act on it.
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Resources

Our defence knowledge hub

Browse our white papers and case studies to find out more about the clients we work with and the defence projects we’ve enhanced over the years.

White Papers

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CRA Compliance for Defense and Dual-Use Manufacturers

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Systems Engineering and Complex Systems Integration

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Using Agile to Develop High-Integrity Systems

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Automated Verification & Validation

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Case Studies

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Safety Assessments for Avionics Modification Programmes

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Automating Closed-Loop Testing

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Get in touch

Can we help secure what matters most?

Whether you need to modernize legacy systems, secure critical infrastructure, or build something entirely new — we're the right team to have in your corner.

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João Pedro Mortágua

Business Development Manager

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Vitor Monteiro Correia

Business Development Manager

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Gonçalo Valadas

Principal Engineer

News

Latest from defense and security

Insights, news, and perspectives from our defense and security team.

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NewsSpace

Karvel Reaches TRL-9: Flight-Proven Aboard ATHENE-1

Critical Software’s on-board software platform, Karvel, reaches TRL-9 and is now flight-proven aboard the ATHENE-1 satellite.

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BlogMedical devices

AI in Medical Devices: Takeaways from Agentic AI Summit Boston

Key takeaways from Agentic AI Summit Boston 2026: why data, ontologies, and hybrid V&V will decide which medical device AI makes it from demo to approval.

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BlogMedical devices

AI in Medical Devices: Why a Working Model Isn’t Enough

Most teams can get an AI model to work. Proving it’s safe for a medical device is where projects stall. Learn what to settle early to reach approval.

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News

Critical Software Opens New Office in Coimbra

Critical Software’s new Coimbra office brings the historic Coimbra Editora building back to life, giving our teams a new home in the heart of the city.

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BlogFinancial services

The Digital Euro and Consumers: Will They Actually Use It?

The digital euro promises a new way to pay across Europe, but its success depends on whether consumers will actually use it.

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BlogAutomotive

Industry Voices: Europe's SDV Push Is Too Big for Any One Company to Build Alone

Andreas Eckel, who leads the Grants Projects Group at TTTech Computertechnik AG, explains why hardware abstraction (not fragmentation), is the real story of Europe's SDV race.

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BlogFinancial services

Building Euronext's Shareholder Intelligence, From Spreadsheets to a Single Console

How two projects with Euronext's Corporate Services team replaced a manual, hard-to-scale process with a system built to handle more clients and more data.

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News

From Robotics to Physical AI: What Pittsburgh Robotics & AI Discovery Day Revealed About the Future

Key takeaways from Pittsburgh Robotics & AI Discovery Day 2026 on physical AI, edge computing, commercialization and building trustworthy autonomous systems.

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BlogMedical devices

AI in Medical Devices: Making It Work, and Proving It

AI is opening new possibilities across the medical device industry. The hard part isn't making it work — it's proving it works: safely, predictably, and in a way regulators can approve and patients can trust.

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When the Digital Euro Account Number Isn't an IBAN

The Digital Euro Account Number looks like an IBAN, but it doesn't tell you who holds the account. Rui Duarte Silva unpacks what that breaks in core banking integration.