NATO and Ukraine Launch 250000-Euro Challenge for Systems to Strike Russian Air Bases

The NATO-Ukraine Joint Analysis Training and Education Centre and NATO Allied Command Transformation announced the Persistent Airfield Denial Innovation Challenge on June 22 2026. The program offers a 250000 euro award for systems that would prevent Russia from using its air bases.

Headquarters Supreme Allied Commander Transformation stated that the ability of the adversary to project air power from secure rear-area airfields remains one of the most consequential asymmetries in the current conflict.

Enemy tactical aviation operating from bases beyond the reach of conventional Ukrainian strike assets continues to conduct strikes using guided aerial bombs cruise missiles and stand-off munitions the statement said. Current workarounds including manned strike aviation ground-based long-range fires and conventional single-unit loitering munitions have demonstrated limited effectiveness against defended airfield targets Headquarters Supreme Allied Commander Transformation added.

Those approaches lack the mass-effect persistence and electronic warfare resilience required to simultaneously suppress airfield infrastructure across multiple aim points in a contested environment.

The Ukrainian Defense Ministry stated that technologies are needed to permanently limit the enemy’s use of aviation infrastructure including aircraft runways fuel and ammunition storage facilities and ground support infrastructure. Ukrainian miltech companies startups and engineering teams are invited to participate.

The challenge is technically agnostic and seeks ideas including uncrewed aerial systems of any configuration or range class autonomous or semi-autonomous munitions and loitering systems swarming and mass-effect approaches alternative delivery mechanisms and hybrid solutions Headquarters Supreme Allied Commander Transformation said.