As drone threats escalate across Eastern Europe, the US Army is accelerating counter-unmanned systems development through innovative acquisition pathways. Project Flytrap 4.5, conducted in Germany in November, evaluated 20 industry solutions for detecting and defeating small- to medium-sized drones. Four winners—AG3 Labs, Armaments Research Company, MatrixSpace, and Mountain Horse Solutions—were selected for the Army’s new Global Tactical Edge Directorate Marketplace, enabling rapid deployment to NATO allies. Concurrently, US, Polish, and Romanian forces successfully demonstrated the Merops counter-drone platform, highlighting cost-effective alternatives to traditional air defense systems.