Ukraine, NATO launch joint program to boost counter-drone tech, other defense capabilities
The NATO military alliance and Ukraine are kicking off a new defense innovation initiative that will offer grants to industry teams for new counter-drone and secure battlefield communications capabilities.
Future efforts under the partnership will also focus on signals intelligence, uncrewed ground systems and “robust navigation in contested electromagnetic environments,” according to a news release issued Wednesday.
The new joint program comes as Ukrainian military forces and cities face continued bombardment from Russian drones, and SIGINT and electronic jamming are playing a major role in the conflict.
NATO and Pentagon officials have been taking lessons from the Ukraine-Russia war since the Kremlin launched its full-scale invasion in 2022, as both sides have employed innovative technologies and tactics — including the widespread use of small unmanned aerial systems and counter-UAS weapons.
The new initiative, dubbed UNITE–Brave NATO, is getting ready to start a pilot “competition” where industry teams from Ukraine and NATO countries will have the opportunity to seek grants.
Initial funding for the effort — split equally by the transatlantic alliance’s Comprehensive Assistance Package for Ukraine (CAP) and Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital Transformation — will be worth up to 10 million euros, but that amount could soon be ramped up to 50 million euros in 2026 as the partners look to grow the effort, per the news release.
The program will focus on “bringing to the frontline new innovative products” and scaling “prototyped and tested innovative technologies that help meet interoperability requirements,” officials wrote.
Interested companies will soon be able to register online. Joint bids are expected to be submitted in February 2026. Officials plan to announce the winners of the first competition at the next NATO-Ukraine Defence Innovators Forum, according to Wednesday’s news release.
