The call comes amid the rapid adoption of fibre-optic drones in Ukraine.

NATO released an innovation challenge to counter fibre-optic first person view (FPV) drones on 28 April. 

Fibre-optic drones are “one of today’s most urgent battlefield threats” the NATO notice states, due to their resistance to electronic warfare. 

Until 30 May, companies can submit proposals, with finalists set to be announced just six days later on 5 June, according to the event summary. 

Finalists will then be invited to attend a pitch day on 20 June, on-site in Tallinn, Estonia. 

Ideal solutions will focus on detection and threat prioritisation, guidance and tracking, and kinetic and non-kinetic neutralisation. 

The call is the sixteenth of its kind – since their inception in 2017 – and is run by NATO’s Allied Command Transformation (ACT) innovation hub and the Joint Analysis, Training and Education Centre (JATEC). 

Requirements 

There are five key requirements cited by the challenge listing, including the ability to detect small drones up to 500m away and the capability to operate at night and in poor weather conditions. 

The system must also be lightweight and modular (with an ideal weight below 100kg) and have an open architecture in compliance with NATO standards. 

ACT and JATEC are targeting a unit price of between EUR50,000 and EUR100,000, ensuring its relatively cost-effective for scalable production.  

The solution also has “strong potential for mass production in Ukraine”, the notice added.  

In addition, proposals can include innovative low-cost micro-radars, thermal or optical target recognition and designation tools, and “automated defeat systems”, such as smart turrets, shotgun arrays, net launchers, or aerosol-based interceptors.  

Solutions must be deployable within six months to a year. 

Benefits for applicants 

Besides access to a range of experts, organisational representatives and other stakeholders, participants will be able to present their solutions to frontline users and improve their visibility within the NATO innovation network. 

Finalists will be given the chance to “contribute to cutting-edge operational needs for Ukraine and NATO Allies”, the notice concluded. 

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