NATO Competition for Airfield Denial Solutions Names Three Winners

Ukrainian developers took third place in NATO’s Persistent Airfield Denial defense innovation competition.

The competition organizers, NATO’s Allied Command Transformation (ACT) and the NATO-Ukraine Joint Analysis, Training and Education Center (JATEC), reported on the developments made by teams from European countries.

Persistent Airfield Denial aims to identify technologies capable of limiting an adversary’s use of airfield infrastructure and combat aircraft for extended periods.

After the final presentations, the jury selected three winners out of nine finalists.

First place went to Czech company LPP Holding, which presented an autonomous long-range uncrewed strike system designed to operate in GPS-denied and electronic warfare environments. It is likely related to the Narwhal cruise missiles program.

Second place went to Poland’s Supercluster. Its StratoAIM uses high-altitude balloons that can lift large payloads to significant altitudes. The concept is designed to provide a low-cost and scalable way to keep remote targets under threat without relying on conventional launch infrastructure.

A Ukrainian AI-focused company took third place. It presented an AI-based system for UAVs operating in contested environments, focusing on resilient navigation, target recognition, and integration across different platforms.

Nine teams out of more than 60 applicants were selected for the final stage, held in Warsaw.

The Ukrainian jury and expert group members included representatives of the Armed Forces and the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, including personnel from the Air Force, Unmanned Systems Forces, the Omega unit of the National Guard, and other branches of the Defense Forces.

On NATO’s side, representatives from the Alliance’s commands and the NATO Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (NATO DIANA) evaluated the proposals.

The next stage will involve testing and combat trials of the proposed technologies. Based on the results of the trials, the organizers will assess their effectiveness and potential for further scaling.

Participants were invited to develop solutions for autonomous or operator-guided strikes against key elements of an adversary’s airfield infrastructure, including aircraft, runways, fuel and ammunition storage facilities, as well as ground support infrastructure.

The organizers placed particular emphasis on involving Ukrainian miltech companies with experience in developing and deploying defense technologies in real combat conditions.

Ukrainian Center of Innovative Technologies Program company has also developed the DART missile, designed to be launched from high-altitude balloons at altitudes of 12 to 18 kilometers.