{"id":1883332,"date":"2026-04-14T05:53:08","date_gmt":"2026-04-14T02:53:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1883332"},"modified":"2026-04-14T05:53:08","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T02:53:08","slug":"mass-drone-warfare-is-europes-rising-security-threat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1883332","title":{"rendered":"Mass drone warfare is Europe\u2019s rising security threat"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/99\/41\/1200x675_cmsv2_04f086d8-c9dd-581f-beb7-c56bf34d4976-9719941.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2884396-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2884396\" data-cid=\"9713232\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2884396-label-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/32\/32\/189x106_cmsv2_8567fdf2-c07f-57fc-910f-5da5a460998a-9713232.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"\u00a9\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Cult<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Preserving Karabakh\u2019s musical heritage\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__quote\">In partnership with <strong>Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2886412-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2886412\" data-cid=\"9723028\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2886412-label-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/72\/30\/28\/189x106_cmsv2_e0b7ff20-c9e0-5c07-82a1-a9eca34d0925-9723028.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"FILE-Norway's crude oil tanker Breiviken is escorted to the Klaipeda oil terminal in Klaipeda, Lithuania, Thursday, 23 January 2020. \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Economy<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    https:\/\/cms.euronews.tech\/article\/9722861\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2886362-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2886362\" data-cid=\"9722784\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2886362-label-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/72\/27\/84\/189x106_cmsv2_b03ae48d-ef00-5548-a1f8-b8a71c8e322a-9722784.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A worker climbs up a damaged residential building in southeastern Tehran, 14 April, 2026\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    USA<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Trump says Iran war &#8216;very close to over&#8217; as truce talks advance\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2886399-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2886399\" data-cid=\"9722959\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2886399-label-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/72\/29\/59\/189x106_cmsv2_8fcd1fd2-3e1a-5c31-8eef-132b1a0806df-9722959.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A Turkish soldier stands guard as police and soldiers secure an area in Istanbul, 7 April, 2026\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Turkey<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Four dead and 20 injured in second school shooting in Turkey this week\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2884396-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2884396\" data-cid=\"9713232\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2884396-label-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/32\/32\/189x106_cmsv2_8567fdf2-c07f-57fc-910f-5da5a460998a-9713232.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"\u00a9\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Cult<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Preserving Karabakh\u2019s musical heritage\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__quote\">In partnership with <strong>Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2886412-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2886412\" data-cid=\"9723028\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2886412-label-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/72\/30\/28\/189x106_cmsv2_e0b7ff20-c9e0-5c07-82a1-a9eca34d0925-9723028.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"FILE-Norway's crude oil tanker Breiviken is escorted to the Klaipeda oil terminal in Klaipeda, Lithuania, Thursday, 23 January 2020. \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Economy<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    https:\/\/cms.euronews.tech\/article\/9722861\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2886362-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2886362\" data-cid=\"9722784\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2886362-label-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/72\/27\/84\/189x106_cmsv2_b03ae48d-ef00-5548-a1f8-b8a71c8e322a-9722784.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A worker climbs up a damaged residential building in southeastern Tehran, 14 April, 2026\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    USA<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Trump says Iran war &#8216;very close to over&#8217; as truce talks advance\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2886399-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2886399\" data-cid=\"9722959\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2886399-label-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/72\/29\/59\/189x106_cmsv2_8fcd1fd2-3e1a-5c31-8eef-132b1a0806df-9722959.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A Turkish soldier stands guard as police and soldiers secure an area in Istanbul, 7 April, 2026\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Turkey<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Four dead and 20 injured in second school shooting in Turkey this week\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"helper-site-row o-article-newsy\">\n<div class=\"helper-site-container o-article-newsy__container\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__main\">\n<header class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__header\">\n<nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs\">\n<div id=\"adb-article-breadcrumb\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs__list\">\n<p>                          Europe<\/p>\n<p>                          EU.XL<\/p><\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<h1 class=\"c-article-redesign-title\">\n                            Mass drone warfare is Europe\u2019s rising security threat<\/h1>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-video u-position-relative \">\n<div class=\"js-superdiv u-aspect-ratio-16x9 u-position-relative \" data-sponsored=\"Partner content\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"js-poster-img c-article-media__img\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/99\/41\/1536x864_cmsv2_04f086d8-c9dd-581f-beb7-c56bf34d4976-9719941.jpg\" width=\"1536\" height=\"864\" loading=\"eager\" alt=\"A drone in the war between Russia and Ukraine\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-caption u-position-absolute\"><i id=\"article-caption-content\" class=\"c-article-caption__content\"><span class=\"c-article-caption__text\"><br \/>\n              A drone in the war between Russia and Ukraine<br \/>\n                    <span class=\"u-color-white\">&#8211;\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__copyright\">Copyright\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__credit\">Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.<\/span><\/span><\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-copyright c-article-image-copyright--novideo\">\n      Copyright\u00a0Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__body u-article-content\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__contributors-publication-date\">\n<div class=\"c-article-contributors\">\n  By&amp;nbspLeticia Batista Cabanas&amp;nbsp&amp;&amp;nbspElisabeth Heinz\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-publication-date\" data-timestamp=\"1776145988\">\n         Published on<br \/>\n            <time datetime=\"2026-04-14 07:53:08 +02:00\">14\/04\/2026 &#8211; 7:53 GMT+2<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-partage-commentaire-share\"><span>Share<\/span><\/span><span>Comments<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire-popup-overlay js-c-article-partage-commentaire-popup-overlay u-display-none\">\n<div id=\"js-c-article-partage-commentaire-popup\" 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alt=\"vk\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>VK<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-vk.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"vk\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-bluesky.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"bluesky\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Bluesky<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-bluesky.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"bluesky\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-threads.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"threads\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Threads<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-threads.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"threads\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"whatsapp\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Whatsapp<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"whatsapp\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"c-article-summary\">\n        France has just announced an \u20ac8.5 billion investment to increase drone and missile stocks by 400 per cent before 2030. The move joins Germany\u2019s decision to invest \u20ac10 billion in military drones and Poland\u2019s recent \u201cdrone revolution\u201d initiative.<br \/>\n    <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-content js-article-content\">\n<p>Modern wars consume drones at a much higher rate than traditional ammunition. Ukraine uses approximately 9.000 drones per day, roughly 270.000 units monthly. Estimates suggest that Iran can produce approximately 400 Shahed drones per day, for a monthly capacity of up to 12.000 units. <\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>This staggering churn is pushing the EU towards mass-scale industrial production, as existing drone stockpiles and manual manufacturing cannot keep pace with battlefield losses. <\/p>\n<p>The bloc\u2019s inability to scale production is creating a strategic dependency on external suppliers like the US or China, leaving its borders vulnerable to disposable, &#8220;cheap&#8221; warfare that the current industrial pace cannot sustain. <\/p>\n<p>To counter this vulnerability, the EU has launched the 2026 European Drone Defence Initiative (EDDI), to build a multi-layered, 360-degree shield of interoperable counter-drone systems by 2027. <\/p>\n<p>Complementing the EDDI is the Drone Alliance with Ukraine, which leverages battlefield-tested expertise to co-produce millions of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). <\/p>\n<h3>Utmost strategic importance<\/h3>\n<p>Drones went from niche tools to key war instruments because of three advantages: low cost, constant surveillance, and precision strike capability. <\/p>\n<p>In Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine, both sides rely on drones for reconnaissance and targeting. Commercial quadcopters, which can cost just a few hundred euros, spot enemy positions and guide artillery in real time. This shortens the time between detection and destruction from hours to minutes. Larger systems, such as Turkey\u2019s Bayraktar TB2, were used to destroy supply convoys and air defence systems early in the conflict, which set a new international war standard. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cDrones evolve technologically every three to six months. So, it&#8217;s also challenging to buy millions of drones that will be obsolete in 12 months from now\u201d, shared Nikolaus Lang, Global Leader at BCG Henderson Institute. <\/p>\n<p>Drones are cheap to produce, but expensive to defend against. In traditional wars, destroying a target required expensive aircraft or missiles, until Ukraine showed that today, a cheap \u201ckamikaze\u201d drone can destroy equipment worth millions. <\/p>\n<p>Russia used many Iranian Shahed drones, each relatively inexpensive, to strike Ukrainian infrastructure. But defending against them requires pricey air-defence missiles or fighter jets, which creates a strategic imbalance where the defender spends far more than the attacker. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cEurope needs cheaper and quicker solutions\u201d, said Jamie Shea, former NATO official, Senior Fellow at Friends of Europe and Senior Advisor at the European Policy Centre in Brussels. \u201cThe EU uses very expensive means to neutralise drones. You&#8217;ve seen in Iran, where $3 million missiles are used to shoot down drones of just a couple of thousand dollars\u201d, he said. <\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-flourish widget--size-fullwidth widget--align-center\">\n<div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n<figure class=\"widget__figure\"><figcaption class=\"widget__caption\"><span class=\"widget__captionWrap\"><span class=\"widget__captionText\">European drone investment over the last decade<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Military analysts from the Centre for Strategic and International Studies describe drones as one of the most disruptive economic shifts in warfare in decades. <\/p>\n<p>Drones also democratise air power. In earlier conflicts, only advanced dominated the air, but this changed during the Nagorno-Karabakh War as Azerbaijani forces used drones to systematically destroy Armenian tanks and artillery. <\/p>\n<p>In the Gaza Strip, both state forces and non-state actors use modified commercial drones for surveillance and attacks. Now even relatively small or poorly equipped groups can carry out aerial operations, which lowers the barrier for effective military force. <\/p>\n<h3>Europe falls behind<\/h3>\n<p>For Europe, urgency stems from external threats and internal weaknesses. Drone incidents near critical infrastructure quadrupled between 2024 and 2025. In September, Copenhagen and Oslo closed airports after \u201cseveral large drones\u201d caused 109 cancellations and 51 reroutes. A month later, Munich Airport closed twice in 24 hours for the same reason. <\/p>\n<p>The strategic concern is that the EU is not yet structured for a \u201cdrone-saturated\u201d battlefield or security environment. Recent incidents forced costly responses: for example, in September of 2025, approximately 20 Russian drones entered Polish airspace, so NATO deployed F-35 fighter jets to neutralize the threat, which cost at least \u20ac1.2 million. <\/p>\n<p>To avoid this, Shea explained that the EU should develop advanced sensor technology, including a 360-degree sensor aperture that shoots down malicious drones. <\/p>\n<h3>Ramping up production<\/h3>\n<p>The EU supplies less than 30 per cent of its own military drone needs. By comparison, China and Ukraine produce millions of units annually, while the US is scaling up to hundreds of thousands. <\/p>\n<p>To address this, the Commission launched an industrial push to fundamentally restructure drone design, production, and deployment. The goal is scale: faster production cycles, higher volumes, and lower costs, because modern drone warfare is less about sophistication and more about quick, adaptable mass production. <\/p>\n<p>Traditional European defence procurement is slow, often taking years from concept to deployment. This approach seeks to shorten timelines through modular designs, faster testing, and continuous upgrades, enabling rapid drone adaptation. So, the Commission introduced AGILE (fast-track funding), the EU Defence Innovation Scheme, and BraveTech EU. <\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-flourish widget--size-fullwidth widget--align-center\">\n<div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n<figure class=\"widget__figure\"><figcaption class=\"widget__caption\"><span class=\"widget__captionWrap\"><span class=\"widget__captionText\">Estimated percentage distribution of EU drone investments<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Low-cost production is another pillar, with initiatives focused on affordability, scalability, and dual-use manufacturing. The EU is engaging civilian industries (e.g., automotive, electronics) and SMEs, which are more agile than large contractors and better suited to rapid prototyping and innovation. Funding tools will support efforts across member states. <\/p>\n<p>Europe has massively levelled up its defence R&amp;D investments, but it&#8217;s still not enough, according to Lang. He pointed out that the \u201cUS invested more than $900 billion, Europe only $450 billion altogether\u201d. <\/p>\n<p>The EU will also rely on the Drone Alliance with Ukraine; a 2024 multinational military partnership created to secure Ukraine&#8217;s UAV supply through constant deliveries of drones tailored to frontline requirements. <\/p>\n<p>The Alliance allowed the EU to establish a network of factories for Ukrainian-designed drones on European soil. So European firms can bypass traditional bureaucracy by testing new prototypes on the front lines in weeks rather than years. <\/p>\n<p>The alliance is boosted by billions from frozen Russian assets, specifically set to scale up production of low-cost autonomous systems. This collaboration wants to deliver over two million drones annually by 2030. <\/p>\n<p>These initiatives should reduce dependence on non-European suppliers, alongside efforts to secure supply chains for critical drone components (like semiconductors, sensors, and communication systems) within EU borders and among trusted partners. <\/p>\n<p>A key tool is the planned \u201cEU trusted drone\u201d label, to certify systems that meet security and reliability standards. It\u2019s designed to guide procurement decisions, encourage the use of European-made technologies, and ultimately create a more self-sufficient and resilient drone ecosystem. <\/p>\n<h3>EU policy meets military drones<\/h3>\n<p>Russia\u2019s violation of NATO airspace (37 times since 2022) and the war in Iran pushed the EU to start redefining its defence strategy, shifting from civil drone regulation to security measures and funding initiatives. <\/p>\n<p>The Commission\u2019s 2026 Action Plan on Drone and Counter-Drone Security addresses the use of drones in conflicts that target critical infrastructure, borders, and airspace. It targets the EU\u2019s real-time detection capacities and develops a unified defence approach against malicious operations. <\/p>\n<p>It also boosts member states\u2019 industrial cooperation and drone markets to reduce dependence on non-EU suppliers. Investing in the small niche companies, where innovation lies, is key. \u201cEurope needs to create greater risk, expand our venture capital market, and simplify procurement regulatory barriers\u201d, Shea argued. <\/p>\n<p>The roadmap focuses on four priorities: boosting resilience through industrial ramp-up, improving threat detection through stronger surveillance, responding and defending with a coordinated strategy, and strengthening the EU\u2019s defence readiness. <\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-flourish widget--size-fullwidth widget--align-center\">\n<div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n<figure class=\"widget__figure\"><figcaption class=\"widget__caption\"><span class=\"widget__captionWrap\"><span class=\"widget__captionText\">Estimated annual drone production (EU versus Russia)<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Detecting and tracking threats requires advanced AI-powered technological infrastructure. The Commission foresees accelerating technological development by using 5G networks to improve real-time threat detection. <\/p>\n<p>The action plan is strong as \u201cit identifies the problem and mobilises resources\u201d, Shea said. Yet the EU needs to learn from Ukraine\u2019s drone strategy: \u201cUkraine is doing 50 per cent of the work for us. It&#8217;s developing the intelligence and offering to share sensitive data. It&#8217;s also showing Europe how AI should be integrated into counter-drone technology\u201d. <\/p>\n<p>The EDDI is a key part of the action plan, and it acts as a shield for the bloc\u2019s airspace. Through its multi-layered, interoperable system, the initiative detects, tracks and defends the EU from hybrid threats and drone incursions. <\/p>\n<p>Running on AI-powered sensing and counter-drone technologies, the EDDI supports the Eastern Flank Watch, which is also part of the Commission\u2019s Defence Readiness Roadmap 2030. It is an EU-NATO initiative to protect the EU&#8217;s border with Russia and Belarus, using specialised counter-drone technologies and boosting air defence, surveillance, and rapid threat response while improving cooperation with NATO operations, such as Eastern Sentry and Baltic Air Policing. <\/p>\n<h3>Security and defence remain national<\/h3>\n<p>Though the EU is shifting towards scalable, networked, AI-driven, and mass-produced warfare equipment, defence and security remain national, meaning that member states have individual defence priorities and budgets. Fragmented national procurement practices, critical infrastructure protection, and different rules governing drone and counter-drone systems obstruct Europe\u2019s new defence strategy. <\/p>\n<p>Shea warned that Europe should establish a common legal framework so that all member states can develop and test drone technology equally. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cEuropean states need to monitor the same airspace all the time, so that somebody in France is looking at the same air picture as somebody in Poland or Estonia\u201d, he underlined. <\/p>\n<p>Another issue? Fragmented national investments in drone innovation. \u201cSome countries, like Denmark or Germany, have been much more upfront than others, also in forming joint ventures with Ukrainian manufacturers\u201d, Shea said. <\/p>\n<p>Likewise, 80 per cent of EU procurement is at national level. \u201cWe need many more of these initiatives to overcome the fragmentation of defence procurement\u201d, warned Lang. <\/p>\n<p>According to Shea, the EU should also eliminate bureaucratic obstacles to enable sensitive information sharing, such as drone threat intelligence and airspace monitoring, between member states. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cDrones are getting faster and sharing information is fundamental, but the EU needs to ensure safe security protocols to encourage countries to share data\u201d. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>                                  Go to accessibility shortcuts<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-partage-commentaire-share\"><span>Share<\/span><\/span><span>Comments<\/span><\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-you-might-also-like\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-article-you-might-also-like\">\n<h2 class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__title\">\n        Read more<br \/>\n      <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  The EU is boosting drone production &#8211; is it ready for war?<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  Can Europe boost its drone defence? Ask the Euronews chatbot<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  AI, drones, quantum: the EU\u2019s new AGILE plan targets future warfare <\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto\">\n<ul id=\"adb-article-tags\" class=\"c-tags-list\">\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<p>    air defence system<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<p>    Defence<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<p>    Drones<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"o-article-newsy__aside\">\n<div class=\"c-ad-wrapper o-article-newsy__aside__content-1\" data-ad-name=\"adzone-halfpage\">\n<div class=\"c-ad c-ad-halfpage u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-top-stories\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-top-stories\">\n<h2 class=\"c-top-stories__title\">Top stories<\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2886362-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2886362\" data-cid=\"9722784\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2886362-label-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/72\/27\/84\/320x180_cmsv2_b03ae48d-ef00-5548-a1f8-b8a71c8e322a-9722784.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A worker climbs up a damaged residential building in southeastern Tehran, 14 April, 2026\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Trump says Iran war &#8216;very close to over&#8217; 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(A\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>     Magyar vows to shut down Hungarian state TV akin to &#8216;North Korea&#8217;<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2884566-pos1-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2884566\" data-cid=\"9720826\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Europe&#8217;s largest artificial lake landscape is being created in Germany<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2886016-pos2-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2886016\" data-cid=\"9720958\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Greenpeace warns of potential &#8216;catastrophic&#8217; Chernobyl collapse<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2886153-pos3-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2886153\" data-cid=\"9721694\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    P\u00e9ter Magyar&#8217;s axe could soon hit Orb\u00e1n&#8217;s network in Brussels<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2886172-pos4-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2886172\" data-cid=\"9721757\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Conservative MP reportedly calls for DJ Haram to be barred from UK<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2886101-pos5-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2886101\" data-cid=\"9721465\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    \u2018A systemic failure\u2019: EES brings travel chaos to EU border control<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"articleBody\" data-key=\"articleBody\">Modern wars consume drones at a much higher rate than traditional ammunition. Ukraine uses approximately 9.000 drones per day, roughly 270.000 units monthly. Estimates suggest that Iran can produce approximately 400 Shahed drones per day, for a monthly capacity of up to 12.000 units.\u00a0This staggering churn is pushing the EU towards mass-scale industrial production, as existing drone stockpiles and manual manufacturing cannot keep pace with battlefield losses.\u00a0\u00a0The bloc\u2019s inability to scale production is creating a strategic dependency on external suppliers like the US or China, leaving its borders vulnerable to disposable, &#8220;cheap&#8221; warfare that the current industrial pace cannot sustain.\u00a0\u00a0To counter this vulnerability, the EU has launched the 2026 European Drone Defence Initiative (EDDI), to build a multi-layered, 360-degree shield of interoperable counter-drone systems by 2027. \u00a0Complementing the EDDI is the Drone Alliance with Ukraine, which leverages battlefield-tested expertise to co-produce millions of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).\u00a0Utmost strategic importance\u00a0Drones went from niche tools to key war instruments because of three advantages: low cost, constant surveillance, and precision strike capability.\u00a0\u00a0In Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine, both sides rely on drones for reconnaissance and targeting. Commercial quadcopters, which can cost just a few hundred euros, spot enemy positions and guide artillery in real time. This shortens the time between detection and destruction from hours to minutes. Larger systems, such as Turkey\u2019s Bayraktar TB2, were used to destroy supply convoys and air defence systems early in the conflict, which set a new international war standard.\u00a0\u201cDrones evolve technologically every three to six months. So, it&#8217;s also challenging to buy millions of drones that will be obsolete in 12 months from now\u201d, shared Nikolaus Lang, Global Leader at BCG Henderson Institute.\u00a0Drones are cheap to produce, but expensive to defend against. In traditional wars, destroying a target required expensive aircraft or missiles, until Ukraine showed that today, a cheap \u201ckamikaze\u201d drone can destroy equipment worth millions. \u00a0Russia used many Iranian Shahed drones, each relatively inexpensive, to strike Ukrainian infrastructure. But defending against them requires pricey air-defence missiles or fighter jets, which creates a strategic imbalance where the defender spends far more than the attacker.\u00a0\u201cEurope needs cheaper and quicker solutions\u201d, said Jamie Shea, former NATO official,\u00a0Senior Fellow at Friends of Europe and Senior Advisor at the European Policy Centre in Brussels. \u201cThe EU uses very expensive means to neutralise drones. You&#8217;ve seen in Iran, where\u00a0$3 million missiles are used to shoot down drones of just a couple of thousand dollars\u201d, he said.\u00a0Military analysts from the Centre for Strategic and International Studies describe drones as one of the most disruptive economic shifts in warfare in decades.\u00a0Drones also democratise air power. In earlier conflicts, only advanced dominated the air, but this changed during the Nagorno-Karabakh War as Azerbaijani forces used drones to systematically destroy Armenian tanks and artillery. \u00a0In the Gaza Strip, both state forces and non-state actors use modified commercial drones for surveillance and attacks. Now even relatively small or poorly equipped groups can carry out aerial operations, which lowers the barrier for effective military force.\u00a0Europe falls behind\u00a0\u00a0For Europe, urgency stems from external threats and internal weaknesses. Drone incidents near critical infrastructure quadrupled between 2024 and 2025. In September, Copenhagen and Oslo closed airports after \u201cseveral large drones\u201d caused 109 cancellations and 51 reroutes. A month later, Munich Airport closed twice in 24 hours for the same reason.\u00a0The strategic concern is that the EU is not yet structured for a \u201cdrone-saturated\u201d battlefield or security environment. Recent incidents forced costly responses: for example, in September of 2025, approximately 20 Russian drones entered Polish airspace, so NATO deployed F-35 fighter jets to neutralize the threat, which cost at least \u20ac1.2 million.\u00a0To avoid this, Shea explained that the EU should develop advanced sensor technology, including a 360-degree sensor aperture that shoots down malicious drones.\u00a0Ramping up production \u00a0The EU supplies less than 30 per cent of its own military drone needs. By comparison, China and Ukraine produce millions of units annually, while the US is scaling up to hundreds of thousands.\u00a0\u00a0To address this, the Commission launched an industrial push to fundamentally restructure drone design, production, and deployment. The goal is scale: faster production cycles, higher volumes, and lower costs, because modern drone warfare is less about sophistication and more about quick, adaptable mass production.\u00a0Traditional European defence procurement is slow, often taking years from concept to deployment. This approach seeks to shorten timelines through modular designs, faster testing, and continuous upgrades, enabling rapid drone adaptation. So, the Commission introduced AGILE (fast-track funding), the EU Defence Innovation Scheme, and BraveTech EU.\u00a0Low-cost production is another pillar, with initiatives focused on affordability, scalability, and dual-use manufacturing. The EU is engaging civilian industries (e.g., automotive, electronics) and SMEs, which are more agile than large contractors and better suited to rapid prototyping and innovation. Funding tools will support efforts across member states.\u00a0Europe has massively levelled up its defence R&amp;D investments, but it&#8217;s still not enough, according to Lang. He pointed out that the \u201cUS invested more than $900 billion, Europe only $450 billion altogether\u201d.\u00a0The EU will also rely on the Drone Alliance with Ukraine; a 2024 multinational military partnership created to secure Ukraine&#8217;s UAV supply through constant deliveries of drones tailored to frontline requirements.\u00a0\u00a0The Alliance allowed the EU to establish a network of factories for Ukrainian-designed drones on European soil. So European firms can bypass traditional bureaucracy by testing new prototypes on the front lines in weeks rather than years. \u00a0The alliance is boosted by billions from frozen Russian assets, specifically set to scale up production of low-cost autonomous systems. This collaboration wants to deliver over two million drones annually by 2030.\u00a0These initiatives should reduce dependence on non-European suppliers, alongside efforts to secure supply chains for critical drone components (like semiconductors, sensors, and communication systems) within EU borders and among trusted partners. \u00a0A key tool is the planned \u201cEU trusted drone\u201d label, to certify systems that meet security and reliability standards.\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0designed to guide procurement decisions, encourage the use of European-made technologies, and ultimately create a more self-sufficient and resilient drone ecosystem.\u00a0\u00a0EU policy meets military drones\u00a0Russia\u2019s violation of NATO airspace (37 times since 2022) and the war in Iran pushed the EU to start redefining its defence strategy, shifting from civil drone regulation to security measures and funding initiatives. \u00a0The Commission\u2019s 2026 Action Plan on Drone and Counter-Drone Security addresses the\u00a0use of drones in conflicts that target critical infrastructure, borders, and airspace. It targets the EU\u2019s real-time detection capacities and develops a unified defence approach against malicious operations.\u00a0\u00a0It also boosts member states\u2019 industrial cooperation and drone markets to reduce dependence on non-EU suppliers. Investing in the small niche companies, where innovation lies, is key. \u201cEurope needs to create greater risk, expand our venture capital market, and simplify procurement regulatory barriers\u201d, Shea argued.\u00a0The roadmap focuses on four priorities: boosting resilience through industrial ramp-up, improving threat detection through stronger surveillance, responding and defending with a coordinated strategy, and strengthening the EU\u2019s defence readiness. \u00a0 \u00a0Detecting and tracking threats requires advanced AI-powered technological infrastructure. The Commission foresees accelerating technological development by using 5G networks to improve real-time threat detection.\u00a0\u00a0The action plan is strong as \u201cit identifies the problem and mobilises resources\u201d, Shea said. Yet the EU needs to learn from Ukraine\u2019s drone strategy: \u201cUkraine is doing 50 per cent of the work for us. It&#8217;s developing the intelligence and offering to share sensitive data. It&#8217;s also showing Europe how AI should be integrated into counter-drone technology\u201d.\u00a0The EDDI is a key part of the action plan, and it acts as a shield for the bloc\u2019s airspace. Through its multi-layered, interoperable system, the initiative detects, tracks and defends the EU from hybrid threats and drone incursions. \u00a0Running on AI-powered sensing and counter-drone technologies, the EDDI supports the Eastern Flank Watch, which is also part of the Commission\u2019s Defence Readiness Roadmap 2030. It is an EU-NATO initiative to protect the EU&#8217;s border with Russia and Belarus, using specialised counter-drone technologies and boosting air defence, surveillance, and rapid threat response while improving cooperation with NATO operations, such as Eastern Sentry and Baltic Air Policing.\u00a0Security and defence remain national\u00a0Though the EU is shifting towards scalable, networked, AI-driven, and mass-produced warfare equipment, defence and security remain national, meaning that member states have individual defence priorities and budgets. Fragmented national procurement practices, critical infrastructure protection, and different rules governing drone and counter-drone systems obstruct Europe\u2019s new defence strategy. \u00a0Shea warned that Europe should establish a common legal framework so that all member states can develop and test drone technology equally. \u00a0\u201cEuropean states need to monitor\u00a0the same airspace all the time, so that somebody in France is looking at the same air picture as somebody in Poland or Estonia\u201d, he underlined. \u00a0Another issue? Fragmented national investments in drone innovation. \u201cSome countries, like Denmark or Germany, have been much more upfront than others, also in forming joint ventures with Ukrainian manufacturers\u201d, Shea said.\u00a0Likewise, 80 per cent of EU procurement is at national level. \u201cWe need many more of these initiatives to overcome the fragmentation of defence procurement\u201d, warned Lang. \u00a0According to Shea, the EU should\u00a0also eliminate bureaucratic obstacles to enable sensitive information sharing, such as drone threat intelligence and airspace monitoring, between member states. \u00a0\u201cDrones are getting faster and sharing information is fundamental, but the EU needs to ensure safe security protocols to encourage countries to share data\u201d. \u00a0<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/2026\/04\/14\/mass-drone-warfare-is-europes-rising-security-threat&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/71\/99\/41\/1200x675_cmsv2_04f086d8-c9dd-581f-beb7-c56bf34d4976-9719941.jpg&#8221;] Cult Preserving Karabakh\u2019s musical heritage In partnership with Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan Economy https:\/\/cms.euronews.tech\/article\/9722861 USA Trump says Iran war &#8216;very close to over&#8217; as truce talks advance Turkey Four dead and 20 injured in second school shooting in Turkey this week Cult Preserving Karabakh\u2019s musical heritage In partnership [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[90],"tags":[226,36],"class_list":["post-1883332","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-international","tag-crawlmanager","tag-euronews-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1883332","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1883332"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1883332\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1883332"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1883332"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1883332"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}