Ukraine, NATO launch joint search for innovative solutions against fiber-optic FPV drones

The Ukrainian Defense Ministry reported the information.

The ministry noted that this hackathon, which will take place on June 20 in Tallinn, Estonia, is a continuation of the joint work between Ukraine and NATO aimed at finding effective responses to modern aerial threats. The previous NATO Innovation Challenge was dedicated to countering guided aerial bombs.

This time, the main task of the competition will be to find solutions to combat fiber-optic FPV drones — one of the most pressing threats today.

“They are resistant to traditional electronic warfare means and pose a serious challenge both for Ukraine’s Defense Forces and for the Alliance’s forces,” the ministry explained.

Given the urgency of the problem, the JATEC team has initiated a search for technologies that can effectively detect, track, and neutralize these aerial targets. Applications for participation in the competition are being accepted until May 30.

Representatives of the defense industries of NATO member countries and Ukraine are invited to participate.

Key areas for development include: 

• detection and prioritization systems (radar, optical, acoustic, thermal, hybrid), 
• rapid and accurate tracking of small high-speed targets, 
• kinetic and non-kinetic defeat systems (including directed energy, nets, and smart munitions).

As noted by the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, during the preliminary selection stage, preference will be given to organizations located in NATO member countries, and team representatives must be citizens of these countries. However, organizations from Ukraine are invited to participate, and their applications may be considered for integration in later stages of the competition process.

The organizers are calling for the development of innovative concepts, systems, and integrated architectures for detecting, targeting, tracking, and neutralizing fiber-optic FPV drones.

Technological solutions must meet several criteria:

• detect drones at a distance of 500 meters;
• operate day and night and in difficult weather conditions;
• be lightweight, weighing up to 100 kg;
• be cost-effective (cost up to $100,000).

Winners of the competition will have a unique opportunity to present their developments to leading NATO experts, make a significant contribution to strengthening the defense capabilities of Ukraine and partner countries, establish contacts with the Alliance’s innovation centers, and open new horizons for the development of their technologies.

The announcement of the finalists is scheduled for June 5, and the presentation of the selected solutions will take place on June 20 in Tallinn.

• Last month, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry codified and approved for use in the Armed Forces the domestically produced unmanned aerial system Hromylo Optic, which is equipped with a fiber-optic control system.