NATO and Ukraine Launch Joint Fund to Fast-Track Drone and Air Defense Weapons

Ukraine and NATO have opened applications for a new grant program called UNITE – Brave NATO. The initiative pairs Ukrainian companies with allied firms to turn battlefield prototypes into ready-to-use weapons. The program focuses on scaling drone and air-defense technology. By combining Ukrainian battlefield experience with NATO resources, the goal is to speed up the production of new systems. Brave1, Ukraine’s defense innovation cluster, is co-managing the fund. The joint effort aims to close the gap between a working prototype and a mass-producible weapon. Applications are now open for teams that can deliver practical, combat-ready solutions.