Dutch defense-tech firm Intelic has launched a European military drone marketplace designed to connect drone manufacturers from nine countries across Europe. The initiative aims to streamline defense procurement by enabling military organizations to compare and acquire compatible unmanned systems more efficiently.
According to the company, Europe’s drone sector is highly fragmented, and the new platform — known as BASE — is intended to reduce the time required to purchase operational drone systems. Through the marketplace, defense ministries can review drones from multiple manufacturers that are compatible with Intelic’s Nexus command-and-control software.
Intelic CEO and co-founder Maurits Korthals Altes explained that the company’s approach centers on providing governments with plug-and-play solutions that integrate easily into existing military structures without requiring extensive retraining or operational adjustments.
The BASE concept was influenced by procurement systems developed in Ukraine. Intelic pointed to Ukraine’s Brave1 initiative, which links combat units with drone manufacturers and has been recognized for accelerating the deployment of new unmanned technologies while driving rapid innovation in drone warfare.
Korthals Altes stated that Intelic is close to finalizing an agreement with the Royal Netherlands Army to equip its drone units with Nexus software, which would also provide access to the BASE marketplace. He added that discussions are underway with several other European defense ministries, although he declined to identify them due to ongoing negotiations.
Companies participating in the marketplace include Tekever, Beyond Vision, DeltaQuad, Avy, Acecore Technologies, Height Technologies, Highcat, Origin Robotics, and Airvolute. Intelic also noted that drone manufacturers from France, the United Kingdom, and Ukraine are involved in the initiative.
While manufacturers themselves will handle delivery and support for drones purchased through BASE, Intelic said it will ensure interoperability through the Nexus software platform. Korthals Altes added that additional software providers could be incorporated later.
At present, the marketplace focuses exclusively on unmanned aerial vehicles, though Intelic plans to expand into other unmanned systems in the future. The CEO estimated that companies participating in the first phase of BASE are expected to collectively generate more than €1.5 billion (approximately US$1.76 billion) in sales this year.
The platform is intended to help defense ministries identify systems suitable for coalition operations. Unlike Ukraine’s Brave1 system, however, European military units cannot purchase equipment directly because EU procurement frameworks operate differently.
BASE will also provide authorized users with access to restricted technical information, operational use cases, and details regarding Nexus software integration. Intelic plans to later introduce lifecycle support functions such as maintenance coordination and operational feedback.
Interoperability is achieved by standardizing participating drones on Intelic’s Nexus command-and-control software, which differentiates BASE from traditional online marketplaces. Korthals Altes said the company’s primary objective is to overcome fragmentation within Europe’s defense drone ecosystem.
Nexus software has reportedly been operational in Ukraine since 2025, including integration with Gurzuf Defence drones and collaboration with Skyeton on its Raybird UAV platform.
Korthals Altes acknowledged that Nexus shares some similarities with Anduril Industries’ Lattice platform, but emphasized that Intelic’s system is hardware-independent. He noted that because Intelic does not manufacture drones itself, the company can remain flexible and focused on building a broader ecosystem.
Intelic believes that Europe urgently needs faster ways to identify interoperable defense technologies, as procurement processes remain divided across nations and slow down deployment timelines. The company argues that validating interoperability before procurement reduces integration risks and speeds operational readiness.
Korthals Altes said many ministries of defense are still determining what capabilities they require and how different systems should function together. He added that Intelic’s role includes helping governments navigate these procurement decisions more effectively. Looking ahead, Intelic plans to expand BASE by onboarding additional drone manufacturers and increasing participation from more European countries. According to Korthals Altes, the company’s broader ambition is to drive adoption across Europe.
