Tenzing Alpha has invested in Aerlijn, a Netherlands-based counter-drone company. Aerlijn develops and builds battle-tested drone interceptors like the Nightmare V3 interceptor. This seed-stage investment will support local production and technology development.

Addressing urgent need for interceptor drones

NATO's Drone Edge initiative, launched at the July 2026 Ankara Summit, commits allies to over USD 40 billion in counter-drone investment over five years, as drone incidents on the eastern flank rise. The cost of interception is prohibitively higher than that attack: a Patriot or THAAD interceptors range from USD 4 -15 million per missile, while a Shahed-class drone costs roughly USD 20,000 each unit. Aerlijn's Nightmare V3 – battle-proven and commercialized in less than one year - is built to reduce cost per intercept, while amplifying defensive engagement.

What sets Aerlijn apart

Frontline feedback drives product development. Aerlijn develops and refines interceptors with Ukrainian partners at the front.

Leading interceptor technology. Nightmare V3 interceptor enables:

• Cost efficiency. Aerlijn designs to a cost ratio of 1:10 against intercept targets, keeping each engagement competitive with the cheapest systems on the market.

• Local manufacturing. Production and supply chain sit within the Netherlands and Europe, reducing dependence on non-NATO supply chains and nullifying export restrictions.

• Battle-tested performance. Speed range from 280 to 300 km/h, an LWIR thermal camera with automatic target tracking to 800 metres, a tactical range of up to 10 kilometers and a ceiling exceeding 6 kilometers, matching the leading Ukrainian interceptors in the field.

Complete system offering for EU procurement & production. Aerlijn produces finished interceptor systems, modular training for customer crews, a suite of control and communication equipment, and provides licensing for national manufacturers requiring domestic output.

"Our mission is to build interceptors like the Nightmare V3 with frontline users, refined by feedback from every intercept made in battle. This partnership with Tenzing will enable EU-based production at the volume our customers need. At the same time, we're actively developing the Nightmare V4, built to intercept next-gen high-speed, long-range targets increasingly used in strikes against Ukraine."

Mykyta Aleksandrov, Founder at Aerlijn

"Aerlijn is an exceptional early-stage investment – the team has progressed through development, to battle-testing, to commercializing a system used by frontline soldiers in under a year. Most defense companies take years to build this track record. We look forward to partnering with Aerlijn to scale production for Europe and NATO, and build the next generation of interceptors."

Marc Moest’l, Partner at Tenzing Alpha

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