In collaboration with
Join the first edition of the BraveTechEU DefTech Forges.
Where Europe’s most ambitious defence innovators meet real operational challenges. Applications for the first two events (Estonia/France) and mentorship open now!
powered by the European Commission
What is DefTech Forges?
The BraveTechEU DefTech Forges are multi-day defence innovation events hosted on military sites across Europe, designed to accelerate the development of deployable solutions to real operational challenges.
Building on the foundations of defence hackathons, DefTech Forges move beyond ideation by enabling startups, scale-ups and SMEs to test their solutions (TRL 4 or higher) directly in operational environments with military operators under real-world constraints.
Delivered across three cycles — with two locations per cycle — until February 2027 the programme brings together selected teams for intensive, hands-on development, testing and iteration.
Each DefTech Forge focuses on mission-driven challenges aligned with current operational priorities, including those emerging from the Ukrainian battlefield context.
What is BraveTechEU?
BravetechEU is a joint initiative with Ukraine to quickly move from ideas to the field. The first phase, known as “DefTech Forges” focuses on identifying and selecting together with Ukraine the most promising solutions from European innovators across Europe. The next stage then puts this technology through rigorous trials that mimic the specific operational conditions found in the war in Ukraine. By bridging the gap between European laboratories and urgent frontline needs, BraveTech EU strengthens the continent’s defence sector while providing tangible, immediate support to Ukraine.
Participants benefit from:
Access to real-world testing environments
Including military facilities and controlled experimentation conditions.
Direct collaboration with military end-users and technical experts
Work side-by-side with operators to test, adapt and refine your solution based on real operational feedback.
Financial rewards for winning teams
€120,000 per team in prize money to be awarded to the top 3 teams/companies per DefTech Forge.
Access to follow-on testing and evaluation programmes
Winning teams progress to Phase 2, implemented by the European Defence Agency (EDA), enabling further validation of their solutions in operational environments within an European OPEX and additional prize money.
Cross-border collaboration opportunities
Engage in joint EU–Ukrainian team configurations, combining frontline experience with advanced technological capabilities.
DefTech Forge
03.06 - 07.06
Estonia
Organised in collaboration with the Estonian Defence Forces. Participants will iterate and test their solutions in operational conditions, including controlled airspace and environments with active electromagnetic interference. The programme focuses on offensive and resilient unmanned air systems for contested environments.
Themes & Challenges
Autonomous and semi-autonomous UAS for strike and assault missions (loitering munitions, FPV attack drones, swarm coordination).
RF seekers and terminal guidance for precision engagement (including miniaturised rocket and munition integration).
Resilient UAS operation under electronic warfare: GNSS-denied navigation, anti-jamming links, autonomous waypoint recovery.
Rapid battlefield adaptation – field-reprogrammable payloads, modular airframes, real-time mission iteration.
Cooperative engagement: multi-drone target handoff, kill-chain compression, sensor-to-shooter integration.
Timeline
Cycle #1 Key Dates:
- Opening Call for Application (28.04.2026)
- Webinar (05.05.2026)
- Closing Call for Applications (10.05.2026)
- Announcements of participants (20.05.2026)
DefTech Forge
01.06 - 05.06
France
Organised with the support of the French Armed Forces, with access to dedicated military sites for live testing. The programme focuses on ground-based capabilities for force protection, perimeter defence, and close-combat support in contested environments.
Themes & Challenges
Challenge 1 : UGV platform integration
Integrate mission capabilities onto UGV platforms for strike operations, engagement and logistics
- Modular strike systems integrated into UGVs, incl. anti-tank mines and explosive charges
- Courier UGVs for logistics and resupply
- Armed UGVs for combat support and POW capture operations
Challenge 2 : Communication & connectivity
Ensure reliable UGV command, control and mission continuity in field conditions
- Tethered communication systems for reliable field connectivity
- Robust communication links critical for UGV operations
- Autonomous take-off, deployment and recovery to enhance mobility and operational efficiency
Challenge 3 : Countermeasures & threat mitigation
Detect, track and defend against enemy UGVs
- Defence against hostile UGVs
- Distributed ground sensor networks for counter-UGV detection
- Acoustic, radar and EO/IR sensing for early warning and threat detection
Timeline
Cycle #1 Key Dates:
- Opening Call for Application (28.04.2026)
- Webinar (05.05.2026)
- Closing Call for Applications (10.05.2026)
- Announcements of participants (20.05.2026)