Eurosatory 2026: France and Ukraine Launch €20M 'BRAVE FRANCE' Joint Defence Innovation Grant Programme, Counter-Drone Tech in Focus
Ukraine's Brave1 defence-tech accelerator and France's Defence Innovation Agency (AID) have signed an agreement to launch the 'BRAVE FRANCE' grant programme, with a total budget of €20 million — €10 million from each side. The initiative targets joint R&D in unmanned systems, missile technology, and counter-air threat capabilities, with the first competitive call for companies opening in September 2026 and individual grants of up to €1 million.
Highlights
- Ukraine's Brave1 and France's AID signed the BRAVE FRANCE agreement, establishing a €20 million joint grant programme with each party contributing €10 million.
- Individual grants under BRAVE FRANCE are capped at €1 million, with the first competitive call for companies opening in September 2026.
- The programme targets three priority domains: missile technology, unmanned systems, and advanced counter-air threat capabilities.
- Technologies developed under BRAVE FRANCE will be validated through the 'Test in Ukraine' platform, enabling real battlefield testing.
- The agreement was signed by AID Director Patrick Aufort and Brave1 COO Iryna Zabolotna, witnessed by French Minister of Armed Forces Catherine Vautrin.
France and Ukraine Join Forces on 'BRAVE FRANCE' Defence Innovation Grant Programme
Ukraine's Ministry of Defence has announced that Brave1, Ukraine's defence-tech accelerator, and France's Defence Innovation Agency (Agence de l'innovation de défense, AID) have formally signed an agreement to launch the BRAVE FRANCE grant programme. The initiative carries a total budget of €20 million, with each side contributing €10 million.
Individual grants will be capped at €1 million, and the first competitive application round open to companies is scheduled to launch in September 2026.
Three Priority Defence Technology Domains
BRAVE FRANCE will focus on developing advanced defence solutions across three priority areas:
- Missile technology
- Unmanned systems
- Advanced counter-air threat capabilities
Both parties are currently finalising the list of priority topics and technical specifications, and are actively constituting a joint executive selection committee and expert panels. Notably, technologies developed under the programme will be validated through the "Test in Ukraine" platform, allowing them to be battle-tested in real operational conditions.
High-Level Signing Signals New Strategic Milestone
The agreement was signed by Patrick Aufort, Director of France's Defence Innovation Agency, and Iryna Zabolotna, Chief Operating Officer of Brave1, in the presence of Catherine Vautrin, France's Minister of Armed Forces and Veterans' Affairs.
Ukraine's Ministry of Defence described BRAVE FRANCE as establishing a new model of strategic cooperation:
"For Ukraine, the programme provides direct access to advanced technologies with the potential to make a real impact on the battlefield. For France, it is a unique opportunity to adapt its own defence innovations to the realities of modern warfare while reinforcing its technological leadership."
Global Counter-Drone Market Reference
The 2026 Unmanned Airspace Global Guide to Counter-UAS Systems is now available. The guide is the only continuously updated, most comprehensive database of counter-drone (C-UAS) companies and systems in the world, featuring over 1,000 counter-drone products and services. Coverage includes technical specifications, vendor information, and partnership data, organised by sub-category including net capture, missile intercept, interceptor drones, and detection equipment. The guide is available in Word, PDF, and Excel formats. For enquiries, contact editor Philip Butterworth-Hayes at philip@unmannedairspace.info.
Image credit: Ukraine Ministry of Defence
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