EU's Plan to Stop and Build Drones

EU Drone‑Warfare Strategy – 22 January 2026

The European Parliament adopted a resolution calling for a rapid overhaul of the EU’s defence posture to meet the new reality of drone‑based warfare. Key points are:

1. Why drones matter

   • Drones are now the most lethal weapon in the Ukraine war, causing more casualties than any other weapon.
   • They are used for reconnaissance, target‑finding, precision strikes, medical evacuation, electronic warfare, mine‑detection, and even for documenting war crimes.
   • Drone use is spreading to Gaza, Israel, Lebanon, Iran, Yemen, Sudan, Myanmar, Azerbaijan, and attacks on ships in the Red Sea.

2. Current EU weaknesses

   • 60 % of drone parts come from the United States and China.
   • China supplies most semiconductors, batteries, magnets, and navigation chips.
   • The EU’s supply chain is vulnerable to Chinese export controls and Russian‑China cooperation.
   • 4.5 million drones are produced in Ukraine each year, far outpacing EU production.

3. Funding and investment

   • €98 million was spent on the Eurodrone programme in 2020; €100 million in 2024.
   • A €7.1 billion contract in February 2022 will build 60 large‑air‑range drones (MALE RPAS).
   • The European Defence Fund (EDF) and the European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP) will finance research, manufacturing hubs, and rapid procurement.
   • The SAFE (Security Action for Europe) and ReArm Europe plans will support Ukraine’s drone industry and EU‑Ukraine cooperation.

4. Industrial strategy

   • Create regional drone‑manufacturing hubs and support SMEs with fast‑track funding, simplified certification, and shared infrastructure.
   • Encourage joint ventures between EU prime contractors and Ukrainian or other partner firms.
   • Build a “drone wall” – a layered defence that combines radar, acoustic, RF, optical, infrared, and laser hard‑kill systems.
   • Develop open‑architecture standards so components can be swapped between suppliers and platforms.

5. Supply‑chain resilience

   • Reduce dependence on Chinese rare‑earths, lithium, and semiconductors by developing EU‑based production and recycling.
   • Stockpile critical parts (motors, batteries, chips) and create a “component bank” for rapid replacement.
   • Use the European Chips Act to fund EU semiconductor manufacturing for drones.

6. Counter‑drone (C‑UAS) capabilities

   • Deploy low‑cost, mobile C‑UAS units that can be fielded quickly.
   • Integrate electronic‑warfare (EW) jammers, laser‑based interceptors, and AI‑driven threat detection.
   • Train all armed forces, police, and civil‑defence units in drone recognition and interdiction.

7. Training and doctrine

   • Establish a European Drone Academy and joint training centres in front‑line states.
   • Run regular multinational exercises with Ukraine, NATO, and EU partners to test swarm defence, EW resilience, and rapid deployment.
   • Align EU C‑UAS rules of engagement with NATO standards and international humanitarian law.

8. EU‑NATO cooperation

   • Create a joint EU‑NATO Drone Centre of Excellence in a front‑line state.
   • Share lessons from Ukraine, standardise C‑UAS protocols, and coordinate real‑time data sharing.
   • Use the EU Sky Shield initiative to integrate C‑UAS into the broader Integrated Air and Missile Defence (IAMD) system.

9. Regulation and policy

   • Harmonise EU drone rules with the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and NATO STANAGs.
   • Introduce a “Drone Sovereignty Index” to track EU‑origin components and reduce non‑EU dependencies.
   • Ensure all drone systems meet the European Military Airworthiness Requirements (EMAR) and are interoperable with EU and NATO command‑and‑control (C‑C) networks.

10. Strategic partnerships

    • Deepen ties with Ukraine, the United Kingdom, Norway, Japan, South Korea, and the United States for technology transfer, joint production, and shared supply chains.
    • Engage the International Drone Coalition to accelerate procurement and standardisation.
    • Use frozen Russian assets to fund Ukrainian drone development and EU‑Ukraine joint projects.

11. Future outlook

    • The EU aims to become fully autonomous in drone production and counter‑drone defence by 2030.
    • Continuous innovation, rapid fielding, and a resilient supply chain are essential to keep pace with Russia’s and China’s fast‑moving drone capabilities.
    • The resolution urges the European Council, the Council, the Commission, NATO, and partner countries to act swiftly to implement these measures and protect EU security and critical infrastructure.