European Defence Agency warns of gaps in EU counter-drone readiness

A confidential report from the European Defence Agency (EDA) reveals that while investment in counter-drone and very short-range air defence capabilities increased sixfold between 2024 and 2025, only about one-third of these programmes are expected to be completed by 2030.

The 2026 annual defence readiness report highlights persistent gaps in European defences, particularly along the eastern flank from the Baltic to the Black Sea. The report notes that drones have increasingly strayed from the Ukrainian battlefield, recently striking two commercial vessels in Bulgarian territorial waters and sinking one.

EU member states are projected to invest €18.9 billion in drone technologies between 2024 and 2029. However, the EDA warns that procurement remains fragmented at the national level with limited interoperability and significant external dependencies. While most funding is directed toward surveillance, reconnaissance, and target acquisition, other critical unmanned aircraft types remain underfunded. Some nations, including Spain, Denmark, Croatia, Latvia, and the Netherlands, are attempting to mitigate these issues through a joint project to centralize innovation and testing.