The European Commission has opened applications for a new EU-Ukraine Drone Alliance, as part of efforts to strengthen Europe’s ability to counter unmanned threats.
The initiative, announced by the Commission’s Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space, comes amid “recent repeated violations of the airspace of EU Member States,” which officials say highlight the need for a more flexible and coordinated response to drone threats.
The alliance is intended to bring together industry and operational users from across the EU, EEA and partner countries, including Ukraine. It will focus on building a more integrated drone and counter-drone capability by linking research, development and production while supporting scalable manufacturing and ongoing technological innovation.
Drones and counter-drone systems have already been identified by EU member states as a priority capability area. The bloc’s Defense Readiness Roadmap 2030 emphasizes the need to address these threats “as a matter of priority” and in a coordinated manner to improve overall security.
The Commission said the new alliance will be industry-led, bringing together manufacturers, startups, scaleups and end users to contribute to ongoing European defense initiatives. It is also expected to work closely with an existing member state-led coalition focused on drone capabilities.
A key objective is to apply lessons learned from Ukraine, where the widespread use of drones has driven rapid innovation in both offensive and defensive systems. The Commission highlighted the importance of developing “innovative drone and counter-drone ecosystems” that connect research with production and support continuous development.
The current call for applications, open until May 25, seeks organizations with demonstrated expertise in drone and counter-drone technologies. Selected participants will become founding members of the alliance and form its initial board, helping to define priorities and guide future activities.
The Commission said it will support and facilitate the alliance’s establishment and operations in cooperation with Ukraine, as Europe looks to accelerate development of its drone defense capabilities in response to evolving security challenges.
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