Alta Ares Wins Six NATO Counter-Drone Lots

French-Ukrainian defense startup Alta Ares won six of 16 lots in NATO’s counter-drone framework, the most of the five companies selected from nearly 100 applicants. Its AI-powered systems, designed to detect and physically intercept drones, are included in NATO’s procurement catalog, allowing member countries to order them through a streamlined process without launching new tenders. The framework covers fixed, transportable and mobile area-defense and border-protection systems; Alta Ares was the only selected supplier whose awards span all three configurations. The selection does not itself guarantee purchases or immediate deployment, though NATO plans to fund equipment purchases for testing. Alta Ares says its software draws on battlefield data from Ukraine and the Gulf, and it is scaling production with a goal of making more than 1,000 interceptors monthly by 2027.