How to radically innovate in emerging defense ecosystems?

Radical innovation is the most critical driver for latecomers' ability to catch up with global leaders. In this regard, while scholars doubt the emergence of radical innovations in the Global South, various success stories prove otherwise. However, the intensification of geo-strategic and geo-economic competition between great powers and the occurrence of a global technological revolution promises a fundamental transformation in the nature and distribution of power, with radical innovation as an urgent priority for the world's military powers. Accordingly, this article first develops a radical innovation framework for emerging defense ecosystems based on a content analysis of 27 interviews with defense innovation experts. The drivers and sub-dimensions of the framework are then prioritized with fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), according to a survey answered by 67 experts. Culture (the importance of radical innovation, organizational culture, and collaboration capacity), governance (policy framework, institutional framework, and organizational structure), resources (infrastructure, human capital, and financial resources), and processes (knowledge management, project management, and open innovation) are the proposed drivers for radical innovation in emerging defense ecosystems. Also, innovation resources are identified as the most crucial driver, with human capital, financial resources, policy framework, and institutional structure as the most critical sub-dimensions, respectively.