Insights into continent-wide drone policies, defense initiatives, and industry collaborations shaping a unified European UAV ecosystem.
Local Players
Poland has entered a defense agreement with Norway’s Kongsberg to manufacture Seawolf drones for Ukraine. This collaboration aims to bolster Ukraine's defense capabilities amid ongoing conflict, while enhancing Poland's role in European defense manufacturing.
Local Players
French company Elistair has unveiled a new tethered drone capable of operating continuously for 24 hours without battery swaps. This dual-payload drone is designed for various applications, enhancing surveillance and operational capabilities in defense and security sectors.
policy
At the Defending Baltics 2025 conference, EU Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius emphasized the urgent need for Europe to enhance its drone and counter-drone capabilities in light of escalating threats along NATO's eastern border.
defense
The concept of a 'drone wall' has emerged as a potential solution to counter Russian incursions into EU airspace. This strategy aims to bolster aerial defenses through the deployment of advanced drone technologies, enhancing surveillance and deterrence capabilities.
pan-europe
Recent sightings of unidentified drones over critical sites in Europe have raised security concerns. Governments are urged to develop comprehensive defense strategies to address potential threats posed by these unmanned aerial systems (UAS).
War
Germany's top military commander warns that Russia's military buildup could lead to a large-scale attack on NATO. Lt. Gen. Alexander Sollfrank emphasizes the need for readiness and presents a new national defense plan to bolster deterrence efforts.
EU - European Union
The European Parliament and Council are nearing an agreement to broaden the Horizon Europe program to include funding for dual-use projects, which can serve both civilian and military purposes.
industry
An analyst critiques the EU's drone defence plan for overlooking Ukraine's wartime-hardened UAS industry and highlights how integrating Ukrainian manufacturing could enhance Europe's defence and innovation.
southern-european
The Italian Competition Authority has initiated an investigation into DJI and its importer Nital for suspected illegal price-fixing and blocking of parallel imports. The probe focuses on the resale practices of professional drones, potentially violating EU competition laws.
regulation
In response to China's recent export restrictions on rare earths, the EU is set to propose a comprehensive strategy for critical minerals by the end of 2025. This initiative aims to bolster the EU's supply chain resilience and reduce dependency on non-European sources, particularly in the defense an
policy
The German drone industry association UAV DACH advocates for replacing the current Remote ID system with ADS-L, a more secure and efficient alternative. The proposal aims to enhance safety and operational efficiency in low-altitude airspace for both commercial and recreational drone users.
regulation
SORA 2.5 updates the Specific Operations Risk Assessment, streamlining it to 10 steps, introducing a quantitative ground risk model and standardised documentation, improving clarity for operators and regulators across Europe.