Sopra Steria Belgium, in consortium with the Belgian Royal Military Academy, Forward Global and Vrije Universiteit Brussel, are thrilled to announce the official launch of B-STORM (Belgian STRATEVAC Tactical Optimisation & Rapid Manoeuvres), a
defence research initiative designed to transform Belgium’s strategic medical evacuation capabilities through advanced simulation modelling and decision-support technologies.
Co-funded under the Defence-related Research Action (DEFRA) programme, the €2.44 million project will run from February 2026 to February 2029 to develop a next-generation, data-driven STRATEVAC planning platform capable of optimising multi-modal
medical evacuations across air, rail, sea and road transport. The initiative brings together operational, academic and industrial expertise to address critical capability gaps in high-intensity military operations and large-scale crisis response.
Addressing critical operational gaps
Modern conflict environments and large-scale emergencies demand rapid, coordinated medical evacuation capabilities. However, current STRATEVAC planning methods often rely on fragmented tools and manual processes that are insufficient for managing
mass casualty situations and multi-modal transport coordination.
The B-STORM project aims to address these challenges by delivering a data-driven, interoperable planning so lution capable of simulating and optimising medical evacuations across air, rail, sea, and road transport. By inte grating clinical data and
operational logistics, the platform will enable planners to make faster, medically informed decisions during high-intensity military operations and civil protection crises.
A strong Belgian consortium
The project is coordinated by Sopra Steria Belgium and brings together a multidisciplinary consortium presented below with their key contribution to the project:
- Royal Military Academy (RMA) – simulation modelling and scientific framework development
- Forward Global (FG) – operational requirements and defence stakeholder engagement
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) – medical data integration and clinical validation
This collaboration bridges operational expertise, academic research, and industrial innovation to deliver a robust and scalable STRATEVAC solution.
Key objectives & expected impact
Over the 36-month programme, B-STORM will:
- Develop a science-based multi-modal STRATEVAC simulation model
- Integrate dynamic patient profiles and clinical prioritisation mechanisms
- Design an interactive decision-support interface for operational planners
- Ensure compliance with cybersecurity, legal, and ethical requirements
- Validate the platform through realistic operational scenarios with end-users
B-STORM will provide Belgian Defence with its first end-to-end, data-driven STRATEVAC planning capability, enhancing operational resilience, resource allocation efficiency, medical decision-making speed and patient outcomes in mass-casualty situations.
Beyond military applications, the project also explores dual-use potential, supporting national crisis response mechanisms and European defence health logistics frameworks.
Future Perspectives
By 2029, the consortium aims to deliver:
- A validated prototype (TRL 5–6) for STRATEVAC planning
- Extended simulation models and clinical datasets
- A user-tested operational decision-support interface
- Scientific publications and operational demonstrations
- Potential pathways for commercialisation and dual-use deployment
The B-STORM initiative marks an important step in strengthening Belgium’s preparedness for future crises while reinforcing European defence innovation and resilience. B-STORM will enable faster, clinically informed decision making and improving
patient outcomes during mass-casualty scenarios.