NATO and Ukraine have announced the next phase of a joint innovation programme aimed at developing new military technologies, including counter-drone and air defence systems.
The UNITE – Brave NATO initiative will see €10 million in contracts awarded to teams made up of companies from NATO member states and Ukraine, according to NATO.
A new online portal has been launched to allow firms to register, form partnerships and submit proposals, with the first competition window expected to open in the spring. The programme is focused initially on Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) and air defence challenges, reflecting operational demands emerging from the war in Ukraine.
Projects will be jointly evaluated by NATO and Ukrainian authorities, with contracts issued through the NATO Communications and Information Agency.
The initiative is intended to deepen collaboration between Allied and Ukrainian defence technology sectors, while accelerating the development of capabilities needed on the battlefield. It will also feature at the NATO-Ukraine Defence Innovators Forum in Vilnius in June.
Further competitions are planned, with ambitions to expand the programme to €50 million, supporting longer-term cooperation between NATO and Ukraine’s innovation ecosystems.
With recent defence announcements with ME countries Ukraine is in line for mega bucks coming into their defence industry👍😀