# NATO Uses Ukraine in Red-Team Drills

NATO is using Ukrainian forces and unmanned surface vessels as adversarial red teams in exercises designed to test alliance tactics and accelerate adaptation. The Joint Warfare Centre’s Fight Club initiative probes operational limits through scenarios, while the activity highlights allied interest in counter-drone defenses, unmanned maritime systems, and anti-submarine warfare. The signal identifies no solicitation, contract value, or procurement contact, so it indicates capability priorities and testing needs rather than a specific procurement opportunity.

- Defense contractors can use these exercise priorities to assess whether their counter-drone, unmanned maritime, or anti-submarine offerings address operational testing needs; the signal does not identify a formal requirement or buying timeline.
- Companies developing relevant systems may find interoperability and performance under adversarial scenarios important to demonstrating capability to NATO and allied stakeholders.
- Procurement teams should distinguish this indication of capability interest from an announced competition: no contract, funding amount, or solicitation is reported.

**Jurisdictions:** international
**Industries:** Defense & Military
**Published:** November 11, 2026

### Government Entities
- North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
- Allied Command Transformation (ACT)
- Joint Warfare Centre (JWC)
- Ministry of Defense of Ukraine

### Sources
- [NATO taps Ukraine as red-team in drills to 'trigger an adaptation cycle' - Breaking Defense](https://breakingdefense.com/2026/11/nato-taps-ukraine-as-red-team-in-drills-to-trigger-an-adaptation-cycle) - Breaking Defense