Brussels, April 16 (SANA) –European Union countries are accelerating efforts to build a unified defense system against drones under a new initiative known as the European Drone Defense Initiative (EDDI), part of a broader push to strengthen military capabilities against low-cost aerial threats.
The move comes amid rising defense investments across Europe, with France planning to increase its stock of drones and missiles by up to 400% by 2030, while Germany intends to invest around €10 billion in the sector, alongside similar programs in Poland and other member states.
Defense officials and experts say modern warfare, particularly the Russia-Ukraine war, has demonstrated the growing reliance on drones for reconnaissance and rapid strikes, exposing a gap between battlefield consumption rates and Europe’s production capacity.
The initiative aims to establish a multi-layered air defense system powered by sensing technologies and artificial intelligence, while improving coordination among EU member states and cooperation with NATO to protect airspace and critical infrastructure.
It also seeks to expand domestic production of drones and reduce dependence on external suppliers, involving civilian industries in an effort to achieve greater technological sovereignty in defense.
However, defense policy remains largely under national control, raising concerns that differences in capabilities and procurement among member states could slow efforts to build a fully unified European system.
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