The key facts

  • The Counter-UAS marketplace was created under the Drone Edge initiative and allows procurement of solutions directly from the NATO catalogue without additional tenders
  • NCIA selected 16 solutions from five companies: Alta Ares, Axon Enterprise, Northrop Grumman, OSL UK and Quantum Systems
  • Allies have committed to investing more than $40 billion in counter-drone capabilities over five years

Direct procurement from the NATO catalogue

NATO has announced the launch of a Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) marketplace, created under the Drone Edge initiative to speed up allies' access to counter-drone technologies. The platform allows member countries to procure pre-selected solutions directly from the NATO catalogue without conducting additional tender procedures — the alliance expects this to help meet urgent operational needs faster.

Who and what has been selected

The NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA) selected 16 solutions from five companies following a competitive process: Alta Ares, Axon Enterprise Inc., Northrop Grumman, OSL UK and Quantum Systems. The selection drew on experience gained in NATO innovation events and national programmes, as well as in military exercises; according to the alliance, the solutions have already been used in allied countries and in Ukraine. The range includes stationary, transportable and mobile counter-drone systems. NCIA, which hosts the NATO Counter-UAS Centre of Excellence, will oversee multi-vendor framework contracts lasting 18 months; regular competitions are then planned to refresh the offerings.

Funding

Allies have committed to investing more than $40 billion in counter-drone capabilities over the next five years. In addition, NATO has allocated €3.1 million ($3.6 million) for further testing of the selected systems by member countries and alliance commands.