NATO and Ukraine Launch UNITE-Brave Portal to Facilitate €10 Million in Counter-Drone Contracts
NATO and Ukraine Launch UNITE-Brave Portal for Defense Innovation
NATO and Ukraine have officially launched the UNITE-Brave NATO web portal on March 25, 2026. This platform provides Allied and Ukrainian companies with direct access to a matchmaking system associated with a €10 million joint innovation competition.
The portal, hosted on Brave1’s website, outlines open challenges in Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) and air defense, areas where Ukraine has gained significant battlefield experience over the past three years. NATO announced the portal’s activation alongside the opening of the competition window in spring, with contract awards to be managed by the NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA).
This initiative was first introduced in November 2025, and the launch of the portal allows companies to register, find partners, and prepare joint proposals. Allied companies must confirm their contract eligibility through their national NATO delegations before applying.
Funding Structure of the Competition
The funding for the competition is equally divided, with NATO and Ukraine each contributing €5 million, resulting in a total of €10 million available for contract awards. NATO’s portion is allocated through its Comprehensive Assistance Package for Ukraine (CAP) and is limited to non-lethal technologies. The Ukrainian side is funded by the Ministry of Digital Transformation through Brave1’s grant program. Each joint application can receive a maximum award of €1 million, with up to €500,000 from each side. Only joint proposals are eligible; solo submissions from either Allied or Ukrainian companies will not be accepted.
This structure aims to facilitate collaboration, ensuring that Ukrainian battlefield knowledge is integrated into Allied products while leveraging Allied manufacturing capabilities within Ukrainian supply chains. Proposals will be evaluated by both NATO and Ukraine, with contracts issued in accordance with the NATO Procurement Opportunity page. The NCIA has set a target date of May 29, 2026, for contract awards, following a pre-solicitation notice published in December.
Brave1’s Role in the Initiative
Brave1 serves as Ukraine’s government-run defense technology accelerator, designed to streamline military procurement processes and expedite the delivery of battlefield-tested systems to frontline units. At the recent XPONENTIAL Europe 2026 event in Düsseldorf, Brave1 showcased nine Ukrainian companies demonstrating hardware that has been tested against peer adversaries, including interceptor drones and electronic warfare systems. The portal aims to bridge the gap between showcasing technology and securing export contracts.
Brave1 will coordinate the Ukrainian side of the UNITE-Brave NATO initiative by connecting Ukrainian companies to the matchmaking portal, vetting proposals, and managing grant disbursement for Ukrainian participants. The platform will also facilitate testing of joint solutions through its Test in Ukraine infrastructure, with additional testing opportunities available at NATO sites.
Focus on C-UAS Challenges
The competition specifically targets counter-drone and air defense challenges, reflecting the areas where Ukraine’s combat experience is most relevant to NATO. Observations from the Hedgehog 2025 exercise in Estonia highlighted that NATO lacks the necessary strategies to operate effectively in a drone-saturated environment, a gap that Ukraine has successfully navigated. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen emphasized this point, stating that Ukraine is currently the leading expert in anti-drone capabilities.
The UNITE-Brave NATO initiative aims to address this gap through procurement rather than training exercises, promoting the rapid integration of Ukrainian-designed technologies into Allied defense systems. Recent agreements, such as Germany’s STRILA deal, indicate a growing interest among NATO members in acquiring Ukrainian counter-drone solutions.
Future Plans and Expansion
The UNITE-Brave NATO program will be featured at the NATO-Ukraine Defence Innovators Forum scheduled for June 1–2, 2026, in Vilnius, Lithuania, where competition results are expected to be presented. Beyond the initial €10 million allocation, NATO and Ukraine have plans to expand the program to €50 million for future competitions, aiming to tackle what NATO describes as “today’s hardest military innovation challenges” while fostering long-term ties between Allied and Ukrainian innovation networks.
This initiative marks the beginning of a procurement framework that could permanently integrate Ukrainian defense technology into NATO supply chains.
Conclusion
The launch of the UNITE-Brave portal coincides with a significant showcase of Ukrainian defense technology at the Brave1 pavilion in Düsseldorf, highlighting a coordinated effort to transition Ukrainian innovations from exhibition to contract. The competition’s structure emphasizes joint proposals and collaboration, aiming to expedite the integration of proven Ukrainian solutions into Allied defense capabilities. The upcoming events in Vilnius will serve as a critical test for the program’s effectiveness and future expansion.