- NATO is seeking technologies capable of closing enemy airfields longer
- The competition focuses on aircraft, runways, fuel depots and infrastructure
- Proposed systems must survive electronic warfare and navigation disturbances
NATO and Ukraine have launched a €250,000 (~$287,000) competition to seek technologies capable of denying adversaries the use of airfields for extended periods.
The initiative, known as Persistent Airfield Denial, focuses on disrupting aviation infrastructure used to support military operations against Ukraine.
Organizers are looking for practical solutions that can damage aircraft, runways, fuel facilities, ammunition storage sites and supporting ground infrastructure.
Search for technologies capable of long-term airfield outages
The competition is organized by NATO Allied Command Transformation together with the NATO-Ukraine Joint Analysis, Training and Education Center, commonly known as JATEC.
According to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, the effort stems from the airports’ importance in supporting Russian air operations against Ukrainian territory.
The ministry stated that “Every Russian aviation resort to attack Ukraine begins at an airfield,” explaining why the search is focused on limiting access to aviation infrastructure.
Officials are seeking concepts capable of maintaining operational pressure against enemy airfields rather than only conducting short-duration strikes.
Proposed systems may rely on drones, hovering munitions, swarm technologies, or alternative methods to deliver destructive payloads over significant distances.
The competition rules allow virtually any technological architecture, provided the proposed solution can achieve the required operational results.
Participants must also demonstrate effectiveness in electronic warfare environments where communications may be degraded or completely unavailable during missions.
Solutions are expected to continue to operate without direct operator control or access to satellite navigation services under challenging battlefield conditions.
Organizers also require systems capable of operating year-round and in varying weather conditions without significant performance degradation.
The initiative follows earlier NATO-backed innovation challenges that sought answers to guided bomb threats and fiber-optic drones increasingly used in combat.
Prototype requirements and emphasis on rapid implementation
Organizers require technologies that can quickly move from development to operational implementation after testing has been successfully completed.
The desired technology readiness level falls between 5 and 7, indicating prototype stage capabilities rather than purely theoretical concepts.
Participants are expected to deliver an initial minimally functional version within six weeks that demonstrates practical progress toward implementation goals.
The window for submitting proposals is open until 20 July 2026, while selected finalists will be announced on 11 August.
Ukrainian miltech companies, startups, engineering teams and defense developers are encouraged to submit candidate technologies for evaluation.
Many of the concepts likely to emerge may involve autonomous systems designed to operate independently when communications become unavailable.
Developers can also apply AI tools to improve navigation, coordination and decision-making during contested operations.
Last year, Ukraine’s security service carried out Operation Spiderweb, a coordinated drone strike against five Russian airfields.
Kyiv claimed that the operation destroyed or damaged 41 aircraft and caused approximately $7 billion in damage, although Russia says they lost 11 planes and about $26 million.
Although Ukraine already operates low-cost drones such as the Hornet and other modified AI-assisted UAVs capable of reaching targets hundreds of kilometers away, it is now seeking ‘Spiderweb-type’ technologies capable of delivering similar or greater effects.
Via Defense Express
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