Nato has launched a counter-uncrewed aircraft systems (C-UAS) marketplace to give member states faster access to selected counter-drone technologies without requiring a further tender process.
The marketplace includes 16 solutions supplied by five companies including Alta Ares, Axon Enterprise, Northrop Grumman, OSL UK, and Quantum Systems.
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In a 5 November release, the alliance said the selected solutions include static, transportable, and on-the-move systems.
The Nato Communications and Information Agency (NCIA) selected the systems following experience from Nato and national innovation programmes, as well as military exercises.
Nato said the capabilities have already been deployed in allied countries and Ukraine.
NCIA, which hosts the alliance’s Counter-UAS Centre of Expertise, will manage the multi-award framework contracts supporting the marketplace.
The contracts will run for one and a half years, with further competitions planned to introduce additional technologies.
Nato has allocated €3.1m ($3.4m) for nations and Nato commands to carry out further testing of the selected systems.
The marketplace is part of the Drone Edge initiative, launched at the Nato Summit Defence Industry Forum in Ankara in July this year.
Under the wider initiative, Nato allies have committed to investing more than $40bn in counter-drone capabilities over the next five years.
They have also set a target of training five times as many drone operators by the end of 2027.
The marketplace is intended to support that broader effort by making systems available for purchase after Nato testing and compatibility assessments.
Nato is also expanding its multinational Flight Training Europe initiative to include drone-operator training.
Finland, France, and Sweden joined the programme in July, bringing its membership to 20 Allies.
Participating countries have access to 16 flight-training centres across eight countries through the initiative.
