- NATO seeks technologies capable of closing enemy airfields for longer
- Competition focuses on planes, runways, fuel depots and infrastructure
- Proposed systems must survive electronic warfare and navigation disruptions
NATO and Ukraine have launched a €250,000 (~$287,000) competition to research technologies capable of denying adversaries the use of airfields for extended periods of time.
The initiative, known as Persistent Airfield Denial, aims to disrupt air infrastructure used to support military operations against Ukraine.
Organizers are seeking practical solutions that could damage aircraft, runways, fuel facilities, munitions storage sites and supporting ground infrastructure.
Research into technologies capable of disrupting aerodromes in the long term
The competition is organized by NATO Allied Command Transformation in collaboration with the NATO-Ukraine Joint Analysis, Training and Education Center, commonly known as JATEC.
According to the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, this effort stems from the importance of airfields in supporting Russian air operations against Ukrainian territory.
The ministry said that “every Russian aircraft sorties aimed at striking Ukraine begins at an airfield,” explaining why the search focuses on restricting access to air infrastructure.
Officials are looking for concepts that can maintain operational pressure against enemy airfields rather than conducting only short-duration strikes.
Proposed systems may rely on drones, roaming munitions, swarm technologies, or alternative methods to transport destructive payloads over significant distances.
Competition rules allow virtually any technology architecture as long as the proposed solution can achieve the required business outcomes.
Applicants must also demonstrate effectiveness in electronic warfare environments where communications may be degraded or completely unavailable during missions.
The solutions are expected to continue to operate without direct operator control or access to satellite navigation services in harsh battlefield conditions.
Organizers further demand systems capable of operating throughout the year and in varying weather conditions without significant degradation in performance.
This initiative follows previous innovation challenges supported by NATO, which aimed to address the threats of guided bombs and fiber optic drones increasingly used in combat.
Prototype requirements and emphasis on rapid deployment
Organizers need technologies that can move quickly from development to operational deployment once testing is successfully completed.
The desired technology readiness level is between 5 and 7, indicating capabilities at the prototype stage rather than purely theoretical concepts.
Participants must deliver a first, minimally functional version within six weeks, demonstrating practical progress toward deployment goals.
The proposal submission window remains open until July 20, 2026, while selected finalists will be announced on August 11.
Ukrainian military technology companies, startups, engineering teams and defense developers are encouraged to submit candidate technologies for evaluation.
Many of the concepts likely to emerge could involve autonomous systems designed to operate independently when communications become unavailable.
Developers can also use AI tools to improve navigation, coordination and decision-making during contested operations.
Last year, Ukrainian security services carried out Operation Spiderweb, a coordinated drone attack on five Russian airfields.
kyiv claimed the operation destroyed or damaged 41 planes and caused about $7 billion in damage, although Russia says it lost 11 planes and about $26 million.
Although Ukraine already operates inexpensive drones such as the Hornet and other modified AI-assisted drones capable of hitting targets hundreds of kilometers away, it is now seeking “spider web” technologies capable of producing similar or even greater effects.
Via Defense Express
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