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Наталя ХандусенкоWeapon
25 March 2026, 15:55
2026-03-25
€10 million for counter-UAV and EW technologies: Brave1 and NATO launch first UNITE competition
The Ukrainian Defense Technology Cluster Brave1 and the NATO Headquarters Innovation Directorate, together with NCIA, are launching the first competition under the UNITE — Brave NATO program. Unlike traditional grant competitions, the UNITE — Brave NATO program is based on the mechanics of “matchmaking”. This involves uniting Ukrainian defense developers with NATO companies into one team to create solutions to counter UAVs, as well as navigation aids in electronic warfare.
The Ukrainian Defense Technology Cluster Brave1 and the NATO Headquarters Innovation Directorate, together with NCIA, are launching the first competition under the UNITE — Brave NATO program. Unlike traditional grant competitions, the UNITE — Brave NATO program is based on the mechanics of “matchmaking”. This involves uniting Ukrainian defense developers with NATO companies into one team to create solutions to counter UAVs, as well as navigation aids in electronic warfare.
To make it easier for Ukrainian developers to find international partners, the Ministry of Digital Affairs has launched a special matchmaking platform.
In the first stage, defense companies from Ukraine and NATO countries must register on the portal and go through a compliance procedure. After verification, participants receive access to online matchmaking tools.
Verified companies will be able to:
view profiles;
filter search by categories;
offer cooperation to colleagues (Ukrainian companies can only interact with international ones, and vice versa).
If both parties show mutual interest, a “match” occurs. Their contact information becomes available to each other and they can interact directly.
The companies that have formed partnerships are to begin cooperation and submit a joint application. The finalists, selected by a joint Ukraine-NATO expert commission, will undergo testing in Ukraine, which will be the final stage of the project.
The total budget for the first round is €10 million. The maximum grant per joint application is €1 million (up to €500,000 per party). Brave1 will fund Ukrainian participants, while NATO’s Comprehensive Assistance Package (CAP) will cover the costs of companies from NATO countries (subject to limitations on non-lethal assistance).
Key topics of the competition:
Active protection systems against FPV drones
Advanced and affordable counter-shaheed systems
Electromagnetic support for radio reconnaissance (RER)
Electromagnetic interference technologies against FPV drones
High-altitude flight platforms
Autonomous guidance systems
Companies that already have established partnerships with foreign companies and intend to submit a joint application for a grant will be able to do so after the official opening of applications on the portal .
If a company does not wish to publish its data within the matchmaking tool, but wants to learn more about the competition topics, it can write to us by e-mail: [email protected] .
The announcement of the winners of the first competition is expected in the summer of 2026.
CEO Brave1 on priority developments for this year: "It is necessary that it is not profitable for the Russians to scale the number of "shaheeds". They must understand that there is no point in wasting money and time"
