Joint Initiative UNITE Brave - NATO to Accelerate Battlefield Innovation
NATO and Ukraine have introduced a new joint defense innovation initiative called UNITE – Brave NATO designed to quickly move advanced technologies from development labs to active use on the front lines.
The program marks the first coordinated effort between the Alliance and Kyiv to systematically grow and deploy battle-ready prototypes. The approach is simple: encourage Western and Ukrainian companies to collaborate on creating systems that meet NATO’s standards for interoperability, then fast-track successful designs into operational use.
Ukraine’s participation will be managed through its Brave1 defense-tech cluster, while NATO’s Communications and Information Agency (NCIA) will oversee implementation for the Alliance.
The inaugural UNITE – Brave NATO competition will target technologies that help counter unmanned aerial systems (c-UAS), enhance air defense, and improve secure communications at the front. Future competitions might expand into areas like signals intelligence, resilient navigation in disrupted electromagnetic environments, and unmanned ground vehicles. According to NATO, calls for project proposals will open on 9 February 2026, closing on 30 April 2026, with contract awards expected by 29 May 2026.
To kick things off, NATO and Ukraine have created a €10 million pool for innovation grants, with both sides contributing equally to reach that amount. NATO’s share comes from its Comprehensive Assistance Package for Ukraine, while Ukraine’s portion flows through the Ministry of Digital Transformation. Interested companies will soon be invited to express interest, ahead of formal joint bids submitted in February 2026.
If this pilot phase succeeds, funding could scale up to as much as €50 million during 2026, demonstrating plans for ongoing partnership rather than a single project. UNITE – Brave NATO is poised to become a long-term mechanism for transforming laboratory innovation into practical tools for Ukraine’s defense efforts and NATO’s strategic posture.
Ukraine’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation, Mykhailo Fedorov, commented: “We appreciate NATO initiating this innovative partnership with Ukraine. Our cooperation will speed up the creation of advanced defense technologies and reinforce interoperability. Together, we are shaping a defense system that is more resilient, adaptable, and technologically sophisticated for the Euro-Atlantic region.”
For Ukraine, the program accelerates the delivery of urgently needed capabilities, particularly in drone defense, communications resilience, signals intelligence, and battlefield autonomy. For NATO, it provides a valuable chance to integrate insights from an ongoing conflict directly into its future planning. Ultimately, UNITE – Brave NATO may serve as a model for how alliances can jointly develop and deploy emerging technologies under pressure.