Palantir Technologies has told Reuters that neither the company nor the US government can remotely disable its Maven military artificial intelligence system used by NATO, addressing European concerns about dependence on American defence technology.
Louis Mosley, Palantir’s executive vice president for the UK and Europe, said customers retain operational control over software they purchase. “There are no kill switches. There’s no ability for Palantir or the US government to reach in and switch it off,” he told Reuters.
Mosley also said customers decide whether Palantir employees participate in operating their systems and that Maven can run independently of the company’s personnel.
The public statements from NATO reviewed in connection with the report do not independently verify the specific claim that the system has no remote shutdown capability.
NATO purchased the Maven Smart System in 2025 for its Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE). The platform combines information from sources including satellites, radar and other sensors to help military personnel interpret battlefield conditions, identify potential targets and support operational planning.
The NATO Joint Warfare Centre confirmed that Maven achieved full technical operational capability on June 22, 2026. The milestone marked the system’s readiness against the requirements set by Allied Command Operations.
Palantir’s assurance follows reports of restrictions affecting Ukraine’s use of Starshield, SpaceX’s military-grade satellite service built on its Starlink network.
The reported disruption raised questions about the risks military forces face when critical operational capabilities depend on technology provided by foreign companies.
Accounts of the Starshield restrictions have differed. Reuters reported that officials briefed on the matter attributed an order to limit the service to someone inside the White House, while US officials offered differing explanations of the decision.
The incident has added to concerns in Europe about the extent to which American technology providers can affect military operations.
Germany and France have not adopted Maven for their own armed forces, although the system has been acquired for NATO use. Germany’s military has raised concerns about granting private-sector personnel access to sensitive national military databases. In April, German military cyber-defence chief Thomas Daum told Handelsblatt that the armed forces did not intend to award Palantir contracts for the time being.
France is developing Arcadia, a military command-and-control platform intended to provide an alternative while preserving national control over sensitive information.
The programme has involved French defence institutions and companies, including Mistral AI, Safran.AI, Thales and Airbus. Le Monde reported on October 1 that Arcadia had been tested in exercises and was expected to enter operational service from late 2027.
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