NATO and Ukraine Launch First Joint Defense Tech Competition With 10 Million Euro Prize

NATO and Ukraine launched their first joint defense technology competition, offering 10 million euros in prizes. The initiative targets innovations in drone warfare, electronic warfare, and autonomous systems, drawing directly from battlefield lessons in both the Ukraine and Iran conflicts. Separately, the European defense industrial base is surging: Rheinmetall reported record 9.9 billion euros in 2025 sales (up 29%) and a 63.8 billion euro backlog, reflecting accelerating European rearmament.