Bucharest airports launch market consultation for integrated counter-drone systems

Market consultation for airport defence

The Bucharest National Airports Company (CNAB) has initiated a market consultation on the Electronic Public Procurement System (SEAP) to acquire integrated counter-drone systems for the Romanian capital's two civil aviation hubs. The procurement initiative encompasses Henri Coandă International Airport in Otopeni and Aurel Vlaicu International Airport in Băneasa. The procedure allows airport authorities to assess available technology and evaluate projected costs for equipment delivery, technical maintenance, and personnel instruction before publishing a formal tender.

CNAB outlined the procurement objectives in an official statement:

The Bucharest National Airports Company plans to acquire integrated systems for the detection, identification, tracking, and neutralization of unmanned aircraft for Otopeni and Băneasa airports, calculating the costs for training, maintenance, and repair services during the 24-month warranty and 24-month post-warranty periods.

Market submissions from specialized defence and security contractors will be accepted until 9 September 2026. After the consultation closes, company officials will review the technical dossiers and formulate the required financial allocation. Funding for the entire project will be drawn exclusively from CNAB's own corporate revenues without drawing upon state budget allocations.

Technical specifications and operational requirements

The technical parameters published in the procurement documentation mandate an integrated counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS and C-sUAS) framework capable of 24-hour operation in all weather conditions. The installed systems must detect, classify, identify, track, and neutralize unauthorized unmanned aerial vehicles entering protected terminal airspace. To guarantee high directional accuracy, the architecture must combine data from multiple sensor arrays and maintain simultaneous tracking across multiple targets.

The operational specifications demand the deployment of both non-kinetic and kinetic neutralization mechanisms. Kinetic measures encompass physical interception and disruption tools, whereas non-kinetic systems focus on electronic jamming. The jamming apparatus must cover the entire electromagnetic frequency spectrum from 400 MHz to 6 GHz, which includes standard commercial drone control and video transmission bands. The documentation stipulates that this frequency coverage must function without frequency segmentation, battery limits, or supplementary hardware modules. Activation of any neutralization mechanism must be partitioned through role-based access protocols, restricting firing controls to certified and authorized personnel.

Service agreements and airspace security context

The procurement package outlines a four-year service arrangement covering both fixed and mobile system components. Vendors must deliver a baseline 24-month warranty period accompanied by an identical 24-month post-warranty support contract. Under these agreements, contractors must provide comprehensive personnel training in system administration, carry out preventive servicing according to manufacturer schedules, and execute all required technical repairs.

The tender follows increased security concerns over low-altitude aerial threats and the vulnerability of critical transport infrastructure. Unauthorized unmanned aircraft in controlled airspace create hazards for commercial flight operations, risking engine strikes and emergency runway closures. The planned installations will complement existing national capabilities, following a prior counter-drone system procurement completed by the Romanian Civil Aeronautical Authority in 2025.