What is NCT PRO Challenge Europe 2026?
NCT PRO Challenge Europe 2026
NCT PRO Challenge Europe 2026 is planned as a major component of NATO’s collective defense readiness and multinational training efforts for calendar year 2026.
Scheduled to take place in and around Zagreb, Croatia, from the 2nd to 6th June 2026, the exercise builds directly on the success of NCT PRO Challenge 2025: Defender – Immediate Response, conducted in Alexandroupoli, Greece, which trained nearly 500 personnel from multiple NATO member states. The 2026 edition expands the scale, complexity, and operational relevance of the program, positioning it as a critical readiness activity in support of U.S. and NATO strategic objectives in Europe.
The largest CBRNE and EOD event in Europe
What is NCT PRO Challenge?
NCT PRO Challenge
The NCT PRO Challenge is a hands-on training event for EOD, Special Forces, and CBRNE teams, held at military or civil training facilities. Unlike typical conferences, it emphasizes real-world scenarios and equipment, guided by experienced professionals. Participants train with the latest industry gear and also take part in the NCT PRO Challenge Tech Tour, visiting sponsoring companies.
Each training session concludes with a debrief, where participants receive direct feedback on equipment and products, evaluating their performance against real-world mission needs. The NCT PRO Challenge offers a valuable opportunity to learn from the experiences of teams, facilitating the exchange of best practices and insights. This feedback can guide both sales strategies and future R&D, helping to refine solutions to better meet end-user requirements.
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More information about NCT PRO Challenge Europe 2026
he overarching purpose of NCT PRO Challenge Europe 2026 is to strengthen host nation support (HNS) capacity and civil-military integration by enabling Croatia—acting as a frontline host nation—to receive, stage, support, and coordinate the movement of NATO forces on its territory. Participating units will be consolidated into a single Joint Task Force (JTF) “Spartacus”, reflecting the requirement for integrated, multinational operations. Through this structure, the exercise trains allied and partner forces on two mutually reinforcing objectives:
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Improving civil-military cooperation and decision-making in a CBRN/EOD-intensive operational environment
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Demonstrating NATO’s—and the United States’—ability to rapidly deploy, support, and sustain military operations using combined and interagency capabilities.
Designed to replicate real-world operational conditions, NCT PRO Challenge Europe 2026 enhances interoperability and preparedness by:
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Deepening regional cooperation and strengthening defense relationships with the host nation;
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Training forces to counter hybrid threats, including insurgent elements, proxy actors, and “little green men”;
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Improving civil-military coordination in complex Counter-Weapons of Mass Destruction (C-WMD) scenarios;
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Providing hands-on, scenario-based training in Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) tasks;
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Showcasing U.S. and allied force capabilities to deter adversaries through integrated, multinational operations; and
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Promoting innovation through the incorporation of advanced technologies, including TAK-enabled command-and-control, remote sensing, detection systems, and a dedicated multi-day industry exhibition.
More than 24 teams from over 14 nations are expected to participate. JTF Spartacus will be divided into six Joint Sub-Task Forces (JSTFs), each comprising 4–6 multinational teams. Every JSTF will combine specialized capabilities including tactical/SOF, CBRN, EOD, medical, and forensics/intelligence elements. Operational coordination, reporting, and mission tasking will be supported by the Exercise Control (EXCON) element, anchored by a fully functional Tactical Operations Center (TOC) utilizing both radio communications and TAK integration with U.S. secure mission networks.
To learn more or inquire about participation, exhibition opportunities, or media access, please contact the NCT Consultants team at eventsteam@nctconsultants.com
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