NATO has launched a Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) marketplace today, aiming to speed up how Allies buy counter-drone technology. The marketplace is part of Drone Edge, an initiative announced at the NATO Summit Defence Industry Forum in Ankara in July.

The idea is simple: Allies with urgent operational needs can pick from a NATO catalogue and buy directly, with no further tender process.

The NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA) ran a competition and chose 16 solutions from five companies: Alta Ares, Axon Enterprise Inc., Northrop Grumman, OSL UK and Quantum Systems. Selection drew on experience from NATO, national innovation work and exercises. The chosen systems are already in use in Allied countries and in Ukraine, and they cover static, transportable and on-the-move setups.

NCIA, which hosts the NATO Counter-UAS Centre of Expertise, manages the multi-award framework contracts. Each contract runs for 18 months. NATO plans to hold regular competitions so Allies can get the newest technology as it emerges.

NATO has also set aside 3.1 million euros so nations or NATO commands can test the selected solutions further. The marketplace supports a wider pledge under NATO's Drone Edge: Allies have committed to invest more than USD 40 billion in counter-drone capabilities over the next five years.

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