EU nations launch joint drone program - Taipei Times
AI Analysis
Five European nations, including France, Poland, Germany, the UK, and Italy, have launched a joint program to develop low-cost air defense systems and autonomous drones. This initiative aims to strengthen border defenses, particularly against threats from Russia and Ukraine, leveraging Ukrainian expertise in drone warfare.
Key Takeaways
- Five EU nations collaborate on low-cost air defense and autonomous drones.
- The program uses Ukrainian expertise gained from the conflict with Russia.
- Efforts include creating a 'drone wall' to detect and intercept airspace violations.
- Poland partners with Ukraine on drone technology and manufacturing.
- The initiative addresses the need for cost-effective defense against low-cost threats.
Why It Matters
This joint program signifies a strategic move by European nations to enhance their defense capabilities against evolving drone threats, particularly from Russia. By collaborating and utilizing Ukrainian expertise, these countries aim to develop cost-effective solutions that can effectively counteract low-cost drone and missile threats, thereby strengthening NATO's overall defense posture.
EU nations launch joint drone program - Taipei Times
- [![]]
- [![]]
- [ *![] * ]
- [ Front Page ]
- [ Taiwan News ]
- [ Business ]
- [ Editorial & Opinion ]
- [ Sports ]
- [ World News ]
- [ Features ]
- [ Bilingual Pages ]
Search*![] * Search*![] *
- All Front Page Taiwan News Business Editorial & Opinion Sports World News Features Bilingual Pages
January 24, 2026 - February 22, 2026 * * GO
- [Home]
- [World News]
Sun, Feb 22, 2026 page3
EU nations launch joint drone program
GAME CHANGER The Russian invasion of Ukraine has shown the utility of small drones for recon, for supporting logistics and for killing across the modern battlefield * AP, WARSAW *
- [ *![] * ]
- [ *![] * ]
- [ *![] * ] Five European nations have announced a new program to produce low-cost air defense systems and autonomous drones using Ukrainian expertise, hard-won over the past four years fighting against Russia. Friday’s initiative of the five nations — France, Poland, Germany, the UK and Italy — comes as one of many European efforts to bolster defense along their borders, like a “drone wall ” with Russia and Ukraine to better detect, track and intercept drones violating Europe’s airspace. Both Moscow and Kyiv have cutting-edge drone warfare capabilities forged in the grim laboratory of war where battlefield innovations have rewritten modern battle tactics. ![]
A Ukrainian drone pilot and position commander of the 56th Brigade operate a Vampire drone during an attack mission on the front line near Chasiv Yar in the Donetsk region, less than 5 kilometers from Russian lines, on Thursday.
Photo: EPA Poland is already working with Ukraine on drone technology in joint military training programs and manufacturing projects. Those efforts were sparked by a spate of incidents in which Europe’s borders and airports have been tested by rogue drones. Russia has been blamed for some of them, but denies that anything was done on purpose or that it played a role. “The UK and our E5 partners are stepping up — investing together in the next generation of air defense and autonomous systems to strengthen NATO’s shield,” British Minister for Defense Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard said. “We have some of the best kit on the entire planet for shooting down air threats. The problem is to be effective at shooting down relatively low-cost missiles, drones, and other threats facing us,” he said. “We need to make sure that we’re matching the cost of the threats with the cost of defense.” Polish Minister of Defense Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said the group of countries signed an agreement to jointly invest in the production and procurement of drone-based strike capabilities as well as cheap drone defense systems