On July 29, 2025, Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace announced it had signed a strategic Teaming Agreement with Polish firm Advanced Protection Systems (APS) to co-develop and deliver advanced counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS) solutions. This new partnership is designed to address the escalating threat posed by drones to military and civilian infrastructure, starting with the defense of Norway and Poland and potentially extending across NATO’s Eastern flank.
The collaboration brings together Kongsberg’s expertise in integrated air defense and APS’s cutting-edge technologies, such as its FIELDctrl radar family and the SKYctrl C-UAS platform, already in use in operational environments. Together, the companies aim to deliver interoperable, scalable C-UAS systems using shared technologies that include advanced radar, sensor fusion, command and control networks, and both kinetic and non-kinetic countermeasures.
At the heart of the APS offering is SKYctrl, a modular, multi-layered system designed to detect, classify, track, and neutralize drones in real time. It integrates FIELDctrl 3D MIMO radar with EO/IR, acoustic, and RF sensors, all coordinated via the CyView command-and-control platform. FIELDctrl radar uses AESA/MIMO technology and multi-hypothesis tracking algorithms to identify UAVs across long distances, while other sensors provide increased accuracy and reduced false positives.
SKYctrl offers a broad range of neutralization options, including RF jammers that can disrupt communications across 20 frequency bands, kinetic options such as net launchers and autocannons, and directed-energy weapons. In a notable advancement, APS in 2024 introduced a non-explosive interceptor drone capable of autonomously ramming and disabling hostile UAVs mid-flight.
This partnership emerges against the backdrop of the Ukraine conflict, where drones have proven to be cost-effective and lethal tools, exposing vulnerabilities even in advanced defense systems. As drone warfare becomes a defining feature of modern conflict, NATO allies are accelerating efforts to deploy flexible and layered counter-drone defenses.
The regional relevance of this alliance is particularly critical. With rising tensions and hybrid warfare on NATO’s eastern frontier, this Polish-Norwegian initiative not only enhances collective defense but also highlights Poland’s growing role as a hub for C-UAS innovation and defense technology development across Europe.
