NATO fund targets drone defence technologies as Ukraine reshapes priorities

By Alicja Surdy and Marta Maciag Oct 13 (Reuters) Russia s invasion of Ukraine is reshaping NATO s defence technology priorities, with counter-drone systems and space-based surveillance ​emerging as some of the alliance s most urgent ‌capability gaps, the head of the NATO Innovation Fund told Reuters. The 1 billion euro ($1.12 billion) fund, backed by 24 NATO nations, is expanding into Poland and looking for direct investments ‌as ​it seeks to accelerate the ⁠development of dual-use technologies ⁠on NATO s eastern flank. We have seen drone incursions into countries here to an extent that is not being seen elsewhere, NIF President Ari Jonsson said. That ​really creates a different mindset when it comes to threats that you can actually see. The most pressing ⁠needs on NATO s eastern flank ⁠are technologies that can detect, track ​and neutralise drones as well as space-based intelligence and reconnaissance ​capabilities, he said. Lessons from the war in Ukraine ‌had significantly i