Northern Defence Investment Horizon, Кульпарківська 591/корпус 42, Lviv (2026)

28/08/2026

A defence product can meet every technical specification — and still fail its user.

Technical specifications tell us what a system can do. They do not always tell us how effectively it can be used in real operational conditions.

How quickly can it be deployed? How much training is required? Can it integrate into existing workflows and systems? Can it be maintained under demanding conditions? Does it reduce the operator’s workload — or create additional complexity?
These factors can be just as important as range, accuracy, capacity or other technical characteristics.

Experienced military users can identify operational friction and assumptions that may remain invisible during technical development. Their feedback allows companies to understand how design decisions translate into the reality faced by the end user.
Identifying these issues early can help defence companies prioritize development, avoid costly redesign and focus resources on capabilities that actually matter in operation.
At NODIH Advisory, we believe this perspective should enter product development as early as possible.

Because technical performance makes a product work. Operational relevance makes it useful.

24/08/2026

Applications open: DefTech Forges grants up to €120,000 for defence and dual-use startups

Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence has launched DefTech Forges, a series of offline technology challenges under the BraveTech EU grant programme, targeting Ukrainian and EU defence and dual-use innovators. Selected startups and SMEs will compete for grants of €120,000, with the potential for follow-on support of up to €750,000 after further testing and evaluation.

To qualify, applicants must:
- Be based in Ukraine or the EU
- Be at TRL 4+
- Have a functional prototype or system ready for field testing and live demonstration
- Apply by 6 September

The programme focuses on five core technology areas:
- Guidance software and hardware for missiles and UAVs
- Autonomous strike UAVs
- Modular UAV platforms
- Detection and sensor systems
- EW-resistant UAV platforms and flight controllers

Challenge topics include multi-mode guidance, swarm coordination, modular payloads, advanced target-detection sensors, and robust operation under electronic warfare conditions.

Post-deadline, an independent panel of military and technical experts will select 40 teams, split into two cohorts of 20. These will join offline DefTech Forge trials in Germany and Romania, testing systems in realistic conditions and receiving direct feedback from specialists. Each event will select three winners (six total), each awarded €120,000 and invited into a follow-on evaluation phase with the European Defence Agency for up to €750,000 in additional funding. Brave1 will participate in scoring and serve on evaluation panels in both locations.

For founders, this is a fast-track route from prototype to validated defence capability. For investors and procurement stakeholders, it is a curated pipeline of TRL 4+ teams stress-tested by end-users.

➡️ Interested in how DefTech Forges and BraveTech are reshaping European defence innovation? Let’s connect.

Read more: https://thedefender.media/en/2026/08/deftech-forges-grant/

21/08/2026

Reports, exhibitions and controlled tests are essential for understanding how a defence technology performs. But they cannot fully reproduce the environment in which that technology will actually be used. That's why we have now launched NODIH Advisory.

Time pressure, operator workload, integration with existing systems, deployment challenges and rapidly changing operational requirements can expose issues that remain invisible during development.

This is where battlefield feedback changes the picture. Direct conversations with relevant military professionals add operational context to technical data and help companies see whether their assumptions still match reality. That perspective can influence product priorities and R&D decisions before significant resources are committed.

NODIH Advisory connects European defence companies with relevant military experience in Ukraine — bringing real operational perspective closer to the development process.
Want to learn more about the opportunities NODIH can provide?

Visit https://www.nodih.com/

16/08/2026

The Expression of Interest window for the first UNITE – Brave NATO joint Ukraine–NATO innovation grant competition closed on 3 August 2026. This inaugural call, run via Ukraine’s Prozorro platform, marks the launch of the first structured defense‑innovation grant programme that requires one Ukrainian company to partner with one company from a NATO member state.

The programme has a total budget of €10 million, with up to €1 million available per joint project (up to €500,000 per company). The first call prioritises counter‑UAS technologies and air‑defence capabilities, with winners expected to be announced later in summer 2026.

While ticket sizes are small compared with multi‑billion‑euro EU instruments, the structural impact is significant: for the first time, public funding is explicitly tied to cross‑border co‑development, not just support for Ukrainian firms alone or NATO suppliers selling into Ukraine.

For founders, this creates a formal path to validate technology with a partner across the border and to accelerate readiness for serial production and NATO‑country distribution. For investors, the matched‑pair model generates a transparent, vetted pipeline of government‑co‑funded joint ventures that may become strong candidates for follow‑on private rounds once technical and market traction is proven. For procurement stakeholders, it offers a mechanism to surface battlefield‑tested solutions that are already structured for multinational cooperation.

If you’re building, funding, or buying in defense tech across Ukraine and NATO, this first UNITE – Brave NATO cohort is one to watch closely.

Follow NODIH for more structured insights on dual‑use and defense innovation across Europe and Ukraine.

Read more: https://mod.gov.ua/en/news/unite-brave-nato-applications-open-for-the-first-joint-ukraine-nato-innovation-grant-program

14/08/2026

Parliament backs VAT exemption for unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) in Ukraine

The Verkhovna Rada has adopted Law No. 15259, amending the Tax Code to exempt from VAT the supply of unmanned ground vehicles. The law is marked as adopted on the draft’s official page, following a vote where 294 MPs supported the measure, one abstained, and 25 did not vote.

The VAT exemption applies to systems classified under the following Ukrainian Classification of Goods for Foreign Economic Activity (UCGFEA) groups: 84, 85, 87, 90, and 93. Eligible end recipients are:
- Law enforcement agencies
- Ministry of Defence of Ukraine
- Armed Forces of Ukraine and other military formations
- Volunteer formations of territorial communities
- Enterprises executing state defence contracts

The exemption is temporary and will remain in force until martial law is lifted. It is limited to supplies carried out under state contracts for defence procurement.

Implications:
- For founders: Clearer and more favourable tax conditions for UGV-related products entering defence procurement, improving unit economics on qualified contracts.
- For investors: Reduced tax friction may accelerate demand for UGV systems and related technologies within the defence and security sector, potentially improving revenue visibility for compliant suppliers.
- For procurement: The measure is intended to better meet the needs of combat units and improve budget efficiency on UGV purchases by removing VAT from qualified deliveries.

At NODIH, we continue to track these regulatory shifts and their impact on defence-tech builders and capital.

If you’re a founder, investor, or procurement lead working with UGVs in Ukraine, connect with us to discuss how this change may affect your roadmap and deal structures.

Read more: https://thedefender.media/en/2026/05/vat-ugv-scrapping/

13/08/2026

Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence has launched automated supplier verification for Armed Forces procurement by integrating the YouControl analytics platform, as announced by Deputy Minister Mstyslav Banik. The aim is to accelerate contractor vetting, reduce corruption risks, and minimise delays in weapons and rear-logistics supply.

YouControl’s system cross-checks suppliers in real time against open data sources, automatically flagging:
- Presence on sanctions lists
- Tax debts
- Criminal proceedings
- Hidden corporate ties to Russia or Belarus

The company plans to extend this screening approach to non-resident foreign suppliers in the future.

Operationally, once a supplier submits standard documentation, a ministry registrar now works through a single electronic account. A “Trust Index” tool executes initial scoring, assigns an overall risk level, and builds an automated risk profile based on due-diligence factors.

Importantly for market participants, YouControl’s outputs are advisory: they cannot be used as the sole legal basis to reject a supplier. If a red flag appears, registrars must verify the facts directly via official state registers before taking procedural decisions.

The agreement also includes training MoD staff in open-data analysis and ongoing consultancy as the Ministry develops its own databases and integrates them with state registers. This builds on earlier practice at the Defence Procurement Agency, where participation in a tender for mid-range strike drones was limited to verified suppliers only.

For founders and investors, this signals a decisive shift toward data-driven, compliance-by-design defence procurement. For procurement teams, it underlines the growing expectation of real-time risk visibility and verifiable transparency in supplier ecosystems.

Follow NODIH for more structured insights on defence and dual-use procurement trends.

Read more: https://thedefender.media/en/2026/08/mod-youcontrol/

09/08/2026

The European Commission and Ukraine have formally launched the EU–Ukraine Drone Alliance, turning May 2026’s concept into an operational framework for joint drone and counter‑drone development.

Eighteen companies have joined as founding members, split evenly between EU and Ukrainian manufacturers. European participants: Indra Group, Fincantieri, WB Group, Destinus, Delair, RSI Europe, Terma, Quantum Systems, ORQA. Ukrainian participants: SkyFall Industries, Greentech Harvest, Tencore, Deviro, Vyriy Industries, Atlon Avia, TAF Industries, UForce, F‑Drones (with a second list naming: SkyFall Industries, Deviro, Vyriy Industry, Athlon Avia, TAF Industries, UFORCE, F‑Drones).

The alliance was unveiled during President von der Leyen’s visit to Kyiv and the third EU–Ukraine Defence Industry Forum. It operationalizes the recent Drone Deal between the European Commission and President Zelenskyy, explicitly pairing EU industrial capacity, secure production and certification with Ukraine’s battlefield‑tested drone IP and operational know‑how.

Financially, the launch coincides with an additional €1 billion for Ukrainian drone procurement (as part of a larger multi‑billion‑euro defence funding envelope), plus a separate €10 billion plan to finance drones, missiles and fighter jets. The signal to the market is clear: Brussels aims to industrialise, not just subsidise, Ukrainian drone capabilities.

For founders: this opens structured pathways for joint ventures, co‑production and tech transfer into NATO‑standard supply chains. For investors: watch alliance members and adjacent enablers as prime beneficiaries of de‑risked, policy‑backed demand. For procurement: expect new frameworks that blend EU certification, Ukrainian combat validation and coordinated scaling targets.

The alliance council’s first governance meeting in Brussels this September—where work priorities, joint projects, production targets and IP‑sharing parameters will be set—is a key milestone for capital and partnership decisions.

If you’re an investor, founder or procurer active in European or Ukrainian defence tech, connect with NODIH to explore implications and partnership angles.

Read more: https://defence-industry-space.ec.europa.eu/commission-launches-eu-ukraine-drone-alliance-boost-drone-and-counter-drone-technology-2026-07-17_en

06/08/2026

We are launching a new advisory service for European defence technology companies seeking a clear and honest understanding of Ukraine’s rapidly changing battlefield environment.

NODIH Advisory provides direct, first-hand insight into how technologies perform in real operational conditions, how they compare with existing solutions, and where they may fit within current military needs.

Companies can start with a short, focused consultation — without committing to a long-term advisory project.

Learn more and request an introductory consultation:
https://www.nodih.com/advisory

Follow NODIH for further insights into Ukraine’s defence technology sector.

04/08/2026

Ukraine is accelerating the deployment of domestically developed laser air defence systems, with first operational use expected within 2–3 months, according to Deputy Commander-in-Chief Andrii Lebedenko. The systems are being co-developed by Armed Forces units and private defence companies.

Current laser variants can already destroy FPV drones, with engineering work underway to enable interception of Shahed-type loitering munitions. Once testing is complete, Lebedenko expects these systems to outperform heavy machine guns for engaging aerial targets when integrated into mobile fire groups.

These efforts build on previously disclosed systems. The compact Sunray laser, small enough to fit in a car boot, has been trialled to dazzle optical sensors and disable small drones. The larger Tryzub system has demonstrated neutralisation of FPV drones at up to 900 m and reconnaissance UAVs at up to 1.5 km, with ongoing tests to mount lasers on Protector unmanned ground vehicles, creating mobile air-defence nodes.

For founders and investors, this signals a rapidly maturing market segment around directed-energy C-UAS, with demand for compact power systems, robust beam control, and integration with unmanned platforms. For procurement stakeholders, lasers promise near-unlimited “ammunition” and low cost per shot, but require careful doctrine and CONOPS design due to performance limits in fog, rain, snow, and smoke, and the need for precise, sustained beam dwell time—especially against larger drones.

NODIH continues to track these developments and their implications for dual-use innovation, venture deployment, and defence acquisition pathways. Contact us if you are building or funding enabling technologies in power, sensing, or C-UAS integration.

Read more: https://thedefender.media/en/2026/07/lebedenko-laser-weapon/

31/07/2026

Ukrainian-Estonian defence tech company Farsight Vision has launched FSV Localizer, a software tool that determines an enemy drone’s position using only intercepted video. No additional direction-finding hardware is required.

Operators define a search area on a map and upload a photo, video, or link to a live drone feed. The system then matches visual data to terrain and automatically plots the drone’s location and direction of travel with numbered markers.

According to Farsight, FSV Localizer is designed for reconnaissance teams and counter-drone operators who need rapid geolocation from limited data in the field. This can compress sensor-to-shooter timelines and improve targeting and force protection without new hardware deployments.

The product builds on Farsight Vision’s collaboration with Ukrainian-Estonian firm Teletactica, with whom they are developing a separate system for long-distance transmission of high-resolution drone imagery—highlighting a broader push toward software-led enhancements of existing ISR and C-UAS stacks.

Implications:
- Founders: clear signal that pure-software layers on top of existing hardware are gaining adoption in defence and dual-use ISR.
- Investors: increasing demand for low-SWaP, field-deployable software that upgrades legacy systems without capex-heavy hardware refresh.
- Procurement: tools like FSV Localizer fit into current C-UAS workflows while lowering integration friction and time-to-field.

At NODIH, we continue to track and benchmark solutions like FSV Localizer that reshape how militaries and security actors detect, track, and counter unmanned systems. For curated analysis or deal-flow exposure in this segment, get in touch.

Read more: https://thedefender.media/en/2026/07/fsv-localizer/

Northern Defence Investment Horizon

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