Europe's strongest military powers plan drone defence programme | Reuters
AI Analysis
Europe's five largest defense powers are collaborating on a multi-million euro initiative to develop low-cost air-defense systems, including autonomous drones and missiles, with production expected within 12 months. This effort, known as the LEAP initiative, aims to enhance European defense capabilities amid concerns over U.S. commitment to European security.
Key Takeaways
- Five major European defense powers are collaborating on low-cost air-defense systems.
- The initiative focuses on autonomous drones and missiles as cost-effective alternatives.
- The project is expected to produce results within 12 months, with full delivery by 2027.
- The LEAP initiative highlights joint development, production, and procurement efforts.
- The project responds to lessons learned from the war in Ukraine regarding drone effectiveness.
Why It Matters
This initiative signals a significant shift towards European self-reliance in defense, particularly in countering aerial threats with cost-effective solutions. By focusing on autonomous systems, Europe aims to bolster its defense capabilities independently, reducing reliance on traditional, expensive missile systems and external allies like the U.S.
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Europe's main military powers to develop low-cost air-defence systems
By [Barbara Erling] February 20, 202610:10 AM UTCUpdated ago Text * Small Text * Medium Text * Large Text Share * X * Facebook * Linkedin * Email * Link ![Ukrainian servicemen operate a Darts strike drone at their position near a front line in Donetsk region] A serviceman of the 66th Separate Mechanized Brigade named after Prince Mstyslav the Brave prepares to launch a Darts middle range strike unmanned aerial vehicle towards Russian troops from a... [Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab] Read more KRAKOW, Poland, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Europe's five biggest defence powers are teaming up on a multi-million euro project to bring low-cost air-defence systems like autonomous drones or missiles into production within 12 months, ministers meeting in the Polish city of Krakow said on Friday. The war in Ukraine has shown how autonomous interceptor drones can provide an [effective alternative] to costly air-defence missiles, and Kyiv's European allies are keen to learn from its experience. Sign up [here.] The European Group of Five Defence Ministers, which brings together top military spenders France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Britain, met as European leaders work to boost defence capabilities amid [increased European doubts] about Washington's commitment to protecting the continent. "It's a multi-million pound, multi-million euro commitment ... to step up this technology," Britain's Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard said. "We're really hopeful that this will produce an effector that... will be in production within 12 months." In military terminology, "effectors" are the components of a system that produce a physical effect, while "autonomous platforms" are unmanned systems capable of independent decision-making. The 'Low-Cost Effectors and Autonomous Platforms' initiative, known as LEAP, involves the development of advanced low-cost air-defence systems - such as autonomous drones or missiles - the first project of which will be delivered by 2027, the UK government said in a separate statement. "We have just signed a very important commitment on the joint development of drone-based strike capabilities, low-cost, joint production, and joint procurement of low-cost drone effectors and payloads," Polish Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said. "This is the challenge of our times - technologies are changing... and we must respond very quickly." Reporting by Barbara Erling in Krakow, Pawel Florkiewicz in Warsaw, Lili Bayer in Brussels, M