Germany EU drone defense to start by the end of 2026
The European Commission wants the EU states to make significant progress in drone defense by the end of next year.
16.10.2025, 03:29
SDA
According to the German press agency Deutsche Presse-Agentur, the Brussels authority's armament plans envisage that the heads of state and government will approve a corresponding initiative this year, which is primarily intended to protect against Russian drones. The joint procurement of surveillance systems and defense technology could then begin. The first parts of the system should then be operational by the end of 2026 and the entire system by the end of 2027.
"The recent repeated violations of the airspace of EU Member States have highlighted the urgency of creating a flexible, responsive and modern European capability to defend against unmanned aerial vehicles," states the roadmap, which is to be presented this Thursday by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas and EU Commissioner for Defense Industry Andrius Kubilius.
Drone system should also be able to engage ground targets
The aim is to develop a multi-layered high-tech system with the ability to detect, track and neutralize enemy drones, which is also capable of carrying out precise strikes against ground targets using its own drone technology. It is also important to the planners that it is developed in close cooperation with NATO and is geographically open.
The justification for this 360-degree approach in all directions is that the eastern EU member states on the border with Russia and Belarus are exposed to the greatest immediate threat. However, recent incidents have shown that any country could be affected. In recent weeks, for example, repeated alarms have been triggered at civilian and military airports in Denmark and Germany, among others, due to the sighting of unmanned aerial vehicles. At times, air traffic even had to be suspended as a result.
In light of the fact that drones do not necessarily have to come directly from Russia, the term "European Drone Defense Initiative" will be used instead of a planned "drone wall" in future.
Germany wants to take the lead in air defense project
In addition to the drone defense initiative, several other armament projects are to be presented this Thursday. These include the so-called "Eastern Flank Watch" to improve the defense capabilities of the eastern EU member states, the "European Air Shield" to strengthen EU air defense and the "European Defence Space Shield" to ensure the protection of European satellites.
According to Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, Germany wants to take the lead in the planned "European Air Shield". According to Deutsche Presse-Agentur, the aim is to use EU programs to build a networked, multi-layered air defence system across national borders, including the necessary sensors. It should protect against the entire spectrum of threats from the air and be able to work seamlessly with the NATO command and control system.
Pistorius also announced that Germany would be investing ten billion euros in drones over the next few years. The SPD politician explained that this would include all types of unmanned aerial vehicles, including attack drones. He initially left open whether Germany would support the EU Commission's ideas for procurement quotas. The authority wants to propose that at least 40 percent of defence equipment procurement be organized jointly by the end of 2027.
The EU states had already reached a framework agreement for a massive rearmament in March. At a summit meeting, the heads of state and government decided to do everything in their power to significantly strengthen Europe's defense readiness over the next five years. This should deter Russia from possibly attacking another EU country after Ukraine. Intelligence agencies assume that Russia will be in a military position to start another war by 2030 at the latest.
At a meeting of EU defense ministers on Wednesday evening, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kallas said that the new roadmap, with its concrete goals and clear targets, would help Russia to be ready to defend itself by 2030. According to Deutsche Presse-Agentur, it is also planned to introduce an annual defense readiness report to monitor progress.
