00:01Investment in counter-drone technology across the EU surged six-fold between 2024 and 2025.
00:09However, only a third of the programmes are expected to deliver by 2030,
00:14according to a confidential EU report obtained by Euronews.
00:18The 2026 Annual Defence Readiness Report, a European Defence Agency assessment,
00:24exposes persistent gaps in Europe's defences against drones
00:28and urges Member States to step up investment in drone and counter-drone technology.
00:33The EDA found that most Member States are investing in drones for civilians, reconnaissance and target acquisition,
00:40while other types of unmanned aircraft continue to attract limited funding
00:44despite their growing importance on the battlefield.
00:47EU countries are investing €18.9 billion in drone technologies over 2024-2029, the report says.
00:56However, the EDA points to significant shortcomings,
00:59procurement fragmented at national level, limited interoperability,
01:05a lack of experimentation capacity and insufficient industrial surge capacity.
01:09Closing these gaps would cost comparatively little next to other defence capabilities, the report notes,
01:16but would demand sustained funding and an agile, integrated approach.
01:21In short, it says drone technology is evolving so quickly that equipment risks becoming obsolete before it even reaches the
01:28battlefield.
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