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Eus Drone Defense Plan Hits Snag As Nato Missed Opportunity
The European Union’s drone defense roadmap has taken a critical misstep by limiting cooperation to EU-only initiatives rather than leveraging NATO structures and Ukraine’s battle-tested manufacturing capabilities, according to a recent analysis published by Reuters Breakingviews. The proposed “Defence Readiness Roadmap” 2030, officially presented on October 16, proposes four flagship defense projects, including the European Drone Defence Initiative.
The proposal is being fast-tracked following repeated Russian drone incursions into NATO airspace. The initiative aims to provide a comprehensive framework for the development and deployment of drones within the EU. However, experts warn that this approach will only serve to further marginalize Ukraine’s significant contributions to the field of drone manufacturing.
Ukraine has undergone a remarkable transformation in its drone manufacturing capabilities. In 2022, the country produced just 5,000 drones, but by 2024, this number had increased to over 4 million annually, with more than 500 manufacturers operating across the country. This rapid iteration cycle is being driven by the need for Ukraine to defend itself against Russian aggression.
The EU’s approach fails to capitalize on Ukraine’s expertise in drone manufacturing. The proposed roadmap provides no mechanism for financial solidarity between member states, leaving eastern European nations to shoulder disproportionate defense costs despite defending the entire bloc’s borders. This lack of cooperation is particularly concerning given that these countries are already spending a significant portion of their GDP on defense.
Furthermore, the EU’s approach neglects the potential benefits of partnering with Ukraine’s manufacturers. Ukraine has established itself as the main provider of UAVs in Europe, with over 100 drone-making firms and nearly 50 more devising UAV software. By tapping into this expertise, the EU could potentially improve its own drone defense capabilities.
However, the proposed roadmap does provide some positive developments. The European Commission has committed €6 billion ($7 billion USD) to scale Ukrainian drone production, which is a significant step in the right direction. This funding should be directed more directly towards Ukrainian manufacturers rather than being routed through EU-only structures.
The lack of coordination between the EU and Ukraine’s manufacturing capabilities is also a concern. The EU has established a number of protected co-production facilities, but these are not sufficient to meet the scale of demand for drones. As a result, the EU will continue to rely on traditional Western defense suppliers, which will only serve to delay the development and deployment of effective drone defense systems.
In contrast, countries like Denmark have demonstrated a superior model by channeling funds directly to Ukrainian manufacturers while establishing protected co-production facilities. This approach has enabled Denmark to exploit Ukraine’s speed advantage and battlefield-proven designs.
The Netherlands has also followed suit, recognizing that Ukrainian drone designs forged under daily combat pressure deliver better performance per dollar than traditional Western defense systems.
The UK’s Project OCTOPUS is another example of how the EU can learn from Ukraine’s model. By mass-producing Ukrainian-designed interceptor drones at a fraction of Western contractor costs, the UK is able to destroy Russian Shaheds for just $2,500 each. These aren’t theoretical systems awaiting years of testing; they’re combat-proven platforms that are already being used in operations.
The brutal reality of 9,000 drones daily has completely flipped the relationship between Europe and Ukraine. Now Ukraine trains Danish forces, exports battle-tested designs to NATO allies, and demonstrates innovation cycles that have lapped Western procurement systems by years.
As the EU continues to expand its drone wall initiative – now extended to 360-degree coverage of all EU borders – it must confront the fundamental question: Will Europe learn from Ukraine’s model of rapid iteration and direct manufacturer funding, or will bureaucratic structures slow deployment of the very technologies that Ukraine has already proven work?
The “coalition of the willing” that Brussels endorses offers a more nimble alternative. Operating outside EU institutional constraints, this coalition can channel resources directly to Ukrainian manufacturers, establish co-production partnerships that protect against Russian strikes, and integrate combat-proven systems into NATO defense networks without years of bureaucratic review.
In order to build an effective drone defense system, the EU must acknowledge Ukraine’s significant contributions to the field of drone manufacturing. By doing so, the EU can leverage Ukraine’s expertise and combat-proven designs to improve its own drone defense capabilities. The future of European security depends on it.