NATO fund targets drone defence technologies as Ukraine reshapes priorities
FREE Breaking News Alerts from StreetInsider.com!
StreetInsider.com Top Tickers, 10/13/2026
- Nasdaq falls ahead of earnings, economic data while oil rallies
- Oil prices rise on Saudi Arabia attacks, overshadowing Trump's diesel deal
- Will surging equity supply derail the U.S. bull market? Goldman Sachs weighs in
- Broadcom CEO says many AI investors are gamblers
- "Not buying Chipotle": Starbucks squashes blockbuster acquisition speculation
Tweet
Share
E-mail
An engineer tests commands on the AI-powered Nexus system during flight tests with multiple drones in Katwijk aan Zee, Netherlands, September 30, 2026. REUTERS/Piroschka van de Wouw
By Alicja Surdy and Marta Maciag
Oct 13 (Reuters) - Russia's invasion of Ukraine is reshaping NATO's defence technology priorities, with counter-drone systems and space-based surveillance emerging as some of the alliance's most urgent capability gaps, the head of the NATO Innovation Fund told Reuters.
The 1 billion euro ($1.12 billion) fund, backed by 24 NATO nations, is expanding into Poland and looking for direct investments as it seeks to accelerate the development of dual-use technologies on NATO's eastern flank.
"We have seen drone incursions into countries here to an extent that is not being seen elsewhere," NIF President Ari Jonsson said.
"That really creates a different mindset when it comes to threats that you can actually see."
The most pressing needs on NATO's eastern flank are technologies that can detect, track and neutralise drones as well as space-based intelligence and reconnaissance capabilities, he said.
Lessons from the war in Ukraine had significantly influenced the fund's investment strategy, Jonsson said.
Poland's high defence spending, openness to new technologies and strong engineering base have made it an attractive destination for investment, he said.
Jonsson said the fund was deliberately looking beyond traditional defence contractors for the next generation of defence technologies.
To support that effort, the fund is opening a presence in Warsaw to speed up the identification and adoption of promising innovations.
"The NATO Innovation Fund is the first major fund, not originating from Poland, to establish a substantial presence in our country," Polish Finance Minister Andrzej Domanski said in a statement.
($1 = 0.8953 euros)
(Reporting by Alicja Surdy and Marta Maciag; Editing by Matt Scuffham)
Serious News for Serious Traders! Try StreetInsider.com Premium Free!
You May Also Be Interested In
- Hedge funds are a top draw in Asia as investors look beyond bonds
- Drone sinks ship off Bulgaria's Black Sea coast, prime minister says
- Russia says it hit ship delivering military cargo to Ukraine's Mykolaiv
Create E-mail Alert Related Categories
ReutersSign up for StreetInsider Free!
Receive full access to all new and archived articles, unlimited portfolio tracking, e-mail alerts, custom newswires and RSS feeds - and more!
