NATO launched a marketplace for counter-drone systems (C-UAS) on 5 November, allowing allies to purchase solutions directly from NATO's catalogue without additional procurement procedures. The NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA) has selected 16 solutions from five companies: Alta Ares, Axon Enterprise, Northrop Grumman, OSL UK and Quantum Systems. This is according to a press release from NATO.
The marketplace is part of Drone Edge, an initiative launched at NATO's defence industry forum in connection with the summit in Ankara, Turkey, in July. According to NATO, the aim is to give allies faster access to solutions for urgent operational needs.
The solutions were selected competitively, drawing on experience from NATO, national innovation activities and exercises. According to NATO, they are already in use in allied countries and in Ukraine. The selection includes stationary and transportable systems, as well as systems that can operate while on the move.
NCIA, which also hosts NATO's Counter-UAS Centre of Expertise, is responsible for the framework agreements. The agreements cover multiple suppliers and run for eighteen months. NATO intends to hold recurring competitions so that allies gain access to the latest technology. The value of the framework agreements is not stated in the press release.
NATO has also allocated 3.1 million euros for further testing of the selected solutions, which can be carried out by member states or by NATO's military commands. The marketplace complements the allies' commitment under Drone Edge to invest more than 40 billion dollars in counter-drone capability over the next five years.
Nordic technology is also being tested as part of NATO's drone initiative. In October, Danish company Robotto received a contract via NATO's Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) to test software for autonomous drones. The contract is linked to Drone Edge, NDS reported.
In June, the United States signed a letter of intent with nine NATO countries, including Sweden, Denmark and Norway, to establish a similar marketplace for counter-drone systems, NDS wrote at the time. During the year, Denmark and Sweden have ordered their own counter-drone systems, while Finland has allocated funds to strengthen its drone defences. NDS has been following developments in the series The Nordics arm against the drone threat.