Companies Urged to Act as Ministry of Defence Launches New Counter-Drone Challenge

Businesses across the defence and technology sectors are being called upon to step forward as the Ministry of Defence unveils a new Counter-Drone Challenge.

The threat represented by drones is increasing at unprecedented speed. Daily developments in the war in Ukraine, rising tensions along Europe’s eastern front, and instability in the Middle East demonstrate how rapidly unmanned systems are transforming modern conflict. Drones are now cheaper, faster and more capable than ever before, and they present a growing and tangible threat.

Yet the challenge is not restricted to the physical domain. Modern drone systems rely heavily on data links, satellite navigation, onboard software and networked command-and-control structures. As a result, cybersecurity has become inseparable from counter-drone capability. Vulnerabilities such as false signal transmission, electronic interference, hacking attempts and data interception can undermine both offensive and defensive systems. Any credible solution must therefore be secure by design, resilient against cyber intrusion, and capable of operating in opposed digital environments.

In response, the Ministry of Defence is issuing a clear call to industry: bring forward concrete, deployable solutions that can protect against this evolving danger, both in the air and in the digital domain. Companies with innovative ideas or proven technologies are invited to register for the new Counter-Drone Challenge and play a role in strengthening national and European security.

Building on Previous Success

This is not the first time industry has been challenged to rise to the occasion. In 2025, the Ministry of Defence launched an initial competition focused on countering attack drones. That challenge centred on the development of an entirely new capability: a counter-drone system designed to actively pursue and neutralise hostile drones over enemy territory.

The newly announced challenge takes a different, yet equally strategic approach. The focus now lies on a counter-drone system whose core components already exist, but which must be produced and further developed within the Netherlands or Europe. The aim is to enhance technological sovereignty while accelerating operational readiness.

The Technical Challenge

Participating companies are tasked with delivering solutions capable of detecting and intercepting tactical Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) weighing between 150 and 400 kilograms and reaching speeds of up to 600 kilometres per hour. These systems must be robust, reliable and suitable for integration into modern defence operations.

A Long-Term Opportunity

Companies that present a strong and credible plan may secure long-term collaboration with the Ministry of Defence. Together, government and industry can build a strategic partnership focused on continuous innovation, comprehensive testing and ongoing development. It is an opportunity not only to deliver a system, but to help shape a secure, digitally resilient counter-drone capability for Europe’s defence landscape.

Businesses ready to contribute to the next generation of counter-drone capability are encouraged to come forward and answer the call.

The message to industry is clear: the threat is real, and the time to act is now.

Click here to register 

Photocredits: Istock/Diy13