Alta Ares Selected for NATO’s New Counter-Drone Procurement Framework
Alta Ares has been selected by NATO as one of the companies included in the Alliance’s new counter-drone procurement marketplace, marking an important step in the deployment of its air defence capabilities across NATO countries.
Launched by the NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA) as part of the Drone Edge initiative, the new marketplace gives Allies direct access to selected counter-UAS technologies, helping accelerate the transition from validated innovation to operational procurement.
From European Defence Innovation to NATO Procurement
Alta Ares is one of five companies selected by NATO, alongside Axon Enterprise, Northrop Grumman, OSL UK, and Quantum Systems, with 16 counter-drone solutions available through the new marketplace.
The selected technologies address different operational scenarios, including point protection, area protection, border protection, and convoy protection, reflecting the growing need for scalable counter-UAS capabilities across a wide range of missions.
For Alta Ares, the selection provides a direct pathway toward NATO and Allied customers, reinforcing the relevance of its technology in addressing the rapidly evolving drone threat.
Accelerating Access to Operational C-UAS Capabilities
The new procurement framework is designed to significantly shorten the path from technology identification to acquisition. Allied nations and NATO commands can access the selected solutions through the marketplace without launching a separate tender process.
NATO has also allocated €3.1 million for additional testing of the selected technologies, further supporting their validation in operationally relevant environments.
The framework is initially established for 18 months, with NATO planning to regularly update the marketplace as new counter-drone technologies emerge.
A Major Milestone for Alta Ares
The NATO selection comes as Alta Ares continues to scale its air defence and counter-drone capabilities, following its recent €50 million funding round and strategic partnerships with major European defence players including MBDA and Airbus.
Together, these milestones highlight the company’s growing role in building the next generation of European and Allied air defence capabilities, combining AI-enabled technologies with increasingly rapid pathways to industrialisation and deployment.
