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NATO has launched a new procurement framework to accelerate the acquisition of counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS) and provide member states with direct access to selected technologies.

The initiative is intended to help Allies address urgent operational requirements as unmanned aerial threats continue to feature prominently in modern military operations.

The initiative was launched on November 5, 2026, as part of NATO’s Drone Edge program, which was introduced at the NATO Summit Defense Industry Forum in Ankara, Türkiye, in July 2026. It establishes a procurement mechanism through which Allied countries can acquire selected counter-drone solutions directly from a NATO catalogue without requiring an additional tender process.

Through the initiative, member states will have access to technologies selected by the NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA), which conducted a competitive selection process involving solutions from five companies.

The framework is intended to facilitate access to systems that have already undergone evaluation and demonstrated operational relevance through national activities, NATO exercises and deployments.

16 Counter-Drone Systems Selected

The NCIA has selected 16 counter-drone solutions developed by five companies, Alta Ares, Axon Enterprise Inc., Northrop Grumman, OSL UK and Quantum Systems. The selection was based on experience gained through NATO activities, national innovation programs and military exercises, as well as the operational use of the technologies.

According to NATO, the selected capabilities have already been deployed in Allied countries and Ukraine. Their inclusion in the procurement framework is intended to provide member states with access to systems that have moved beyond the development stage and have demonstrated their suitability in operational environments.

The selected solutions cover a combination of static, transportable and mobile systems designed to address different operational requirements. This range is intended to provide Allies with options for protecting fixed installations, supporting deployed military units and countering unmanned aircraft threats during movement.

Static counter-drone systems can be used to protect military bases, critical infrastructure, airfields, and other fixed facilities. Transportable solutions provide greater flexibility for deployment between locations, while systems designed for use on the move can support military formations operating in changing battlefield conditions.

The selection of different system configurations also reflects the range of threats posed by unmanned aircraft. Counter-drone operations can involve detecting, identifying, tracking and neutralizing different types of aerial platforms, requiring combinations of sensors, electronic warfare equipment and other interception capabilities.

The selected systems therefore offer different approaches to countering unmanned aerial threats rather than relying on a single technology or method. Their suitability will depend on the protected asset, operational environment, threat profile and requirements of individual military forces.

Procurement and Testing Arrangements

The NCIA, which hosts the NATO Counter-UAS Centre of Expertise, is responsible for managing the multi-award framework contracts established under the initiative. These contracts will initially remain valid for 18 months, providing a procurement framework through which participating Allies can acquire the selected technologies.

Under the arrangement, member states will be able to procure solutions directly through the NATO catalogue without conducting a separate tender process. This is intended to reduce procurement timelines, particularly when military authorities need to obtain counter-drone equipment to address immediate operational requirements.

NATO also intends to organize regular competitions during the framework period to ensure that the procurement catalogue continues to provide access to newer technologies. This approach will allow additional solutions to be considered as counter-drone systems develop and new requirements emerge.

The decision to establish a framework involving multiple suppliers also gives Allies access to different technological approaches rather than relying on a single manufacturer. This is relevant as counter-UAS requirements vary considerably depending on the protected asset, operational environment, threat profile, and available military resources.

Alongside the procurement framework, NATO has allocated €3.1 million (approximately $3.6 million) to support additional testing of the selected counter-drone solutions by member states and NATO commands.

The funding will allow participating nations and military commands to conduct further assessments of the systems under different operational conditions. Such testing can provide information on their performance, integration requirements and suitability for specific military applications.

Counter-drone systems must operate in environments where detection and response times can be limited, while the effectiveness of individual technologies may vary depending on the type of unmanned aircraft, operating altitude, range and surrounding conditions.

Further testing can help military authorities determine how selected systems perform against different threats and how they can be incorporated into existing air defense and force protection arrangements.

NATO’s Counter-Drone Investment

The new procurement framework is one component of NATO’s broader Drone Edge initiative, which aims to strengthen the Alliance’s ability to develop, acquire and deploy unmanned and counter-unmanned technologies.

Under the initiative, Allies have committed to investing more than $40 billion in counter-drone capabilities over the next five years. The commitment reflects the growing importance of counter-UAS technologies in military planning, particularly as the use of relatively inexpensive unmanned aircraft has expanded across conventional military operations.

The war in Ukraine has demonstrated how unmanned aerial systems can be employed for reconnaissance, surveillance, artillery correction and direct attacks against military positions and infrastructure. Both sides have also expanded their use of first-person-view (FPV) drones and longer-range unmanned platforms, placing additional demands on air defense and electronic warfare capabilities.

The increasing availability of commercial and military-grade drones has also created challenges for the protection of military installations, logistics facilities and other critical assets. Traditional air defense systems are not always economically or operationally suited to engaging smaller unmanned aircraft, particularly when they are deployed in large numbers or used alongside other weapons.

As a result, NATO members have been pursuing a combination of detection systems, electronic countermeasures, jamming technologies, dedicated interceptors and other solutions to strengthen their ability to identify and counter unmanned aerial threats.

The Drone Edge initiative provides a wider framework for addressing these requirements, while the new procurement arrangement establishes a more direct route for acquiring selected counter-drone technologies.

The introduction of the framework also addresses one of the practical challenges facing NATO members: the time required to move from identifying an operational requirement to acquiring and deploying suitable equipment. By using pre-established contracts and a common catalogue, the Alliance aims to reduce duplication in procurement procedures and make selected capabilities more readily available to national armed forces.

The initial selection of 16 solutions provides a starting point for the program, while planned competitions and additional testing will determine how the catalogue develops during the framework period. Its longer-term contribution will depend on how effectively participating Allies integrate the available systems into their national air defense, electronic warfare and force protection structures.