EU And Ukraine Create Drone Alliance To Integrate Combat Experience And Technology — Kubilius

The EU and Ukraine have joined forces to establish the EU-Ukraine Drone Alliance, bringing together nine Ukrainian and nine European companies. This collaboration aims to develop European expertise in unmanned systems and counter-drone technology, leveraging Ukraine's combat experience from the ongoing war. Andrius Kubilius, EU Commissioner for Defense and Space, emphasized that the EU can provide Ukraine with advanced defense technology and continental-scale production capabilities.

The alliance seeks to create a military experience academy for Europe and provide Ukraine with continental-scale technological and manufacturing capabilities. Kubilius highlighted that the partnership focuses on integrating European experience with Ukrainian developments to quickly scale up production and achieve technological leadership.

Ukrainians are already experts in drones of various types, and the goal is to pool efforts to build European capability in the drone field, allowing Europe to learn from Ukraine's approach to warfare using unmanned systems. The European Commission has approved €6.1 billion in support loans to enhance Ukrainian air defense, procure anti-aircraft UAVs, and acquire PAC-3 interceptor missiles for Patriot systems.

This aid package, announced following the 36th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in the Ramstein format, primarily targets air defense, unmanned systems, and artillery.