Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, is pleased to announce the top five contestants advancing to Phase 2 of the Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) Prize Contest, selected for their exceptional technical proposals (in alphabetical order):
Adevex Soluciones
Dat-Con
Hertz Systems
MBDA France
and Nordic Air Defence
These finalists distinguished themselves through innovative, effective, and efficient C-UAS solutions, evaluated against rigorous Phase 1 award criteria: comprehensiveness, innovativeness, effectiveness, and efficiency. Their proposals showed technical maturity (minimum TRL 7), alignment with European Border and Coast Guard (EBCG) operational needs, and readiness for deployment in live trials. Each finalist is awarded EUR 20,000 for their outstanding submissions.
Out of all the applications submitted, 10 high-quality technical proposals met the predefined eligibility, exclusion, and admissibility criteria, and underwent a merit-based evaluation by Frontex’s Evaluation Committee. All the evaluated proposals possessed significant potential to address the capability gap in neutralising unauthorised UAS threats, such as illicit surveillance and smuggling, thereby enhancing secure and effective EU external border protection.
The C-UAS Prize Contest aims to foster innovative solutions to counter unauthorised, unmanned aircraft activity at the EU’s external borders. In Phase 2, scheduled for October 2025, the top five finalists will further compete in 3–4 weeks of live operational trials at a designated test site in Europe. These trials will assess the performance, effectiveness, and reliability of their solutions against simulated UAS threats, including off-the-shelf and custom-made UAVs. This phase will conclude with a two-day workshop, where finalists will present their solutions to EBCG authorities, EU Member State representatives, and other stakeholders.
Frontex congratulates all Phase 1 participants for their innovative contributions and looks forward to the advancements showcased in Phase 2. The winners of Phase 2 will be announced in November 2025, with prizes ranging from EUR 100,000 to EUR 270,000.
For more details on the Prize Contest please visit the website C-UAS Prize Contest
