EU commits EUR130m for drone defence

The European Commission has committed an additional EUR130 million to support member state' counter-drone capabilities in a bid to strengthen responses to border threats. 

The funding aims to “reinforce situational awareness, better protect external borders, and address risks linked to unauthorised or hostile drone activity,” the commission announced on 1 October. 

It forms part of the EU’s Home Affairs budget for surveillance and counter-drone technology, which has previously allocated EUR250 million in late 2025 and EUR169 million in early 2026, for use by member states and EU border agencies. 

The new funds bring the total amount of money committed under the EU’s Home Affairs budget for surveillance and counter-drone technology to EUR500 million. 

The European Commission says that these funds follow the release of its Action Plan on Drone and Counter Drone Security in February, which highlighted a particular need to protect critical infrastructure and borders. 

Complementing wider initiatives 

Counter-drone defence is a core EU priority and was named in September as one of five European Defence Projects of Common Interest. As part of this, the EU is establishing new drone hubs where industry will be able to test equipment alongside end-users, peers in industry, and civil agencies. 

Additionally, the EU’s EUR150 billion Security Action for Europe financial instrument, which involves EU member states requesting loan amounts for specific high-priority defence requirement, will help to fund counter-drone procurements. 

To support these efforts, a new Counter-Drone Centre of Excellence is being established by the EU in the first quarter of 2027. The centre – in Geel, Belgium – is due to be located at the site of an existing EU scientific research centre. 

 Alongside EU initiatives, eastern European countries are spearheading the creation of a so-called ‘Drone Wall’ to protect against UAV incursions.