Ukraine, NATO launch new funding program to counter Russian drones

MILAN — Ukraine’s defense technology cluster Brave1 and NATO have launched a joint innovation program that will fund defense companies, with the first call focused on counter-drone systems against FPV and Shahed-type drones.

Applications for the project, described as the “first joint innovation grant program,” are intended for companies from Ukraine and NATO member states. The program opened on Tuesday.

Funding of up to €500 million ($569.6 million) per partner is available for joint ventures between one Ukrainian firm and another from a NATO member state. 

Five areas were listed by Brave1 as of high interest: active protection systems against FPVS, affordable counter-shaded systems, electromagnetic support for signals intelligence, electromagnetic attack technology against FPVs, and high-altitude platforms.

While Ukraine retains first-hand expertise in drone warfare, some of these technologies remain hard to deploy against the large number of unmanned systems launched by Russia in different waves. 

According to the London-based Institute for the Study of War, between July 25 and 26 alone, Russian forces deployed one KH-59 cruise missile, seven Iskander-M/S-400 ballistic missiles, and 136 drones against the war-torn country.

In a recent interview, a representative for the Ukrainian company Skyfall told Breaking Defense that Moscow is increasingly relying on jet-powered Shaheds to hit inside Ukraine and regular ones as a replacement for long-range artillery.