Luxembourg Participates in NATO Cyber Defence Exercise

On Monday 27 April 2026, the Luxembourg Army reported that it had participated in the 2026 edition of the international cyber defence exercise Locked Shields, organised by the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCDCOE) in Tallinn, Estonia.

According to the Luxembourg Army, Locked Shields is recognised as one of the largest and most complex “live-fire” cyber defence exercises in the world. Each year, it brings together thousands of cybersecurity experts from allied and partner countries. In recent editions, more than 3,000 participants from over 30 countries have been mobilised to defend a fictional country against large-scale cyberattacks targeting its information systems, while also having to manage technical, legal, strategic and communications challenges in real time.

For the 2026 edition, Luxembourg contributed to a multinational team alongside partners from Germany, Austria and Switzerland. This team was responsible for defending complex IT systems and digital services, particularly in the fields of energy, communications and other critical sectors, against sophisticated cyber threats. The multinational team to which Luxembourg contributed achieved a final ranking of second place out of sixteen participating teams in the 2026 edition of Locked Shields in Germany.

Luxembourg’s participation is coordinated by the Luxembourg Army, in close cooperation with national cybersecurity stakeholders. The national delegation is composed of representatives from public institutions, private sector partners and research organisations, reflecting a comprehensive and cross-governmental approach to cyber defence.

The exercise is fully aligned with the objectives defined by the government in the field of cybersecurity and cyber defence. The Luxembourg Cyber Defence Strategy, developed by the Directorate of Defence and the Luxembourg Army, provides the reference framework for developing cyber defence capabilities and strengthening the resilience of the national cyberspace. It is based on investments in human resources, technology, as well as research and development, and places emphasis on the protection of defence capabilities and cooperation with partners, particularly within NATO and the European Union.

In addition, the National Cybersecurity Strategy identifies, among its main priorities, the strengthening of the security and resilience of digital infrastructure in Luxembourg, as well as the development of a safe and reliable digital environment.