Investments in counter-drone technologies across the EU increased sixfold in 2024-2025, however, according to a confidential European report obtained by Euronews, only a third of such programs are expected to yield results by 2030. The annual defense readiness report for 2026 - an assessment of national military capabilities prepared by the European Defence Agency (EDA) - reveals persistent weaknesses in Europe's defense against drones and calls on member states to increase investments in drone technologies and countermeasures. "Investments in counter-drone capabilities and short-range air defense systems have increased sixfold between 2024 and 2025 in response to the growing threat from unmanned systems, however, only about a third of programs are expected to be implemented by 2030," the report states, which was circulated to European governments last week. The eastern flank of the EU, stretching from the Baltic to the Black Sea, faces a growing threat from drones, some of which are crossing beyond the combat zone in Ukraine. On Tuesday, drones attacked two commercial vessels in Bulgarian territorial waters, one of which sank. The EDA found that most member states are investing in drones for surveillance, reconnaissance, and target acquisition, while other types of unmanned aerial vehicles continue to receive limited funding despite their increasing importance on the battlefield. According to the report, EU countries plan to invest €18.9 billion in drone technologies from 2024 to 2029. "Despite increased attention to procurement of drone capabilities and countermeasures, significant capability gaps and external dependencies continue to negatively impact Europe's overall readiness," the document states. Spain, Denmark, Croatia, Latvia, and the Netherlands are leading a joint EU project for the collective procurement of drones and counter-drone systems, as well as the establishment of a technology hub to centralize innovations and testing. However, the EDA points out serious shortcomings: fragmented national procurements, limited interoperability, lack of experimentation capabilities, and insufficient industrial capacity to rapidly scale up production, particularly when it comes to strike drones. Addressing these gaps, the authors of the report note, would be relatively inexpensive compared to other defense capabilities but would require stable funding and a flexible, integrated approach. "The industrial potential has not yet reached the scale and urgency required for prolonged high-intensity combat: the pace of technological innovation outstrips traditional procurement cycles, creating a constant risk that new systems will become obsolete before they are delivered to the troops," the report states. In other words, drone technologies are advancing so rapidly that there is a risk that the equipment will become outdated before it reaches the battlefield. The report notes that existing plans and programs take these challenges into account, but they need to be supported by appropriate doctrine and personnel training. The EDA also identified over 200 companies in the EU producing drone technologies and counter-drone systems - a dynamic but fragmented ecosystem that, with the right investment base, could expand by 140% of its current scale by next year. "Industrial readiness in this sector implies flexible manufacturing ecosystems, supported at the cutting edge of technology and organized for rapid and large-scale production scaling, rather than for creating large stockpiles in warehouses," the report states.
