NATO launches counter-drone marketplace with 16 systems from five companies

18 hours ago

NATO has launched a marketplace for counter-uncrewed aircraft systems (C-UAS) that lets member states obtain selected counter-drone technologies faster, without running a further tender process, according to Army Technology. The alliance announced the move in a 5 November release.

The marketplace lists 16 solutions supplied by five companies: Alta Ares, Axon Enterprise, Northrop Grumman, OSL UK and Quantum Systems. NATO said the selected systems include static, transportable and on-the-move equipment.

The NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA) chose the systems after drawing on NATO and national innovation programmes and on military exercises, according to the alliance. NATO said the equipment has already been used in allied countries as well as in Ukraine.

Contracts and testing

NCIA, which is home to the alliance's Counter-UAS Centre of Expertise, will administer the multi-award framework contracts that underpin the marketplace. The contracts will last one and a half years, and further competitions are planned to bring in additional technologies.

NATO has set aside €3.1m ($3.4m) so that nations and NATO commands can carry out further testing of the selected systems. Army Technology reported that the marketplace is meant to make systems available for purchase after NATO testing and compatibility assessments.

Part of the Drone Edge initiative

The marketplace belongs to the Drone Edge initiative, which was launched at the NATO Summit Defence Industry Forum in Ankara in July. Under that wider effort, allies have pledged to put more than $40bn into counter-drone capabilities across the next five years.

Allies also aim to train five times the current number of drone operators by the end of 2027. NATO is expanding its multinational Flight Training Europe initiative to cover drone-operator training, Army Technology reported.

Finland, France and Sweden joined that scheme in July, taking it to 20 member allies. According to the report, participants can use 16 flight-training centres spread across eight countries.