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The European Commission has laid out a plan to strengthen defence readiness by the year 2030, with an initial emphasis on countering drones and improving air, maritime, and space defences.
This proposal comes as fears mount over Russia’s suspected hybrid attacks on the EU, which are said to involve sabotage, drone intrusions, interference with undersea cables, and breaches of airspace, reports RTE.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas introduced the strategy, following recommendations made by EU leaders at their summit in June.
The proposal, which still requires approval from member countries, includes four flagship initiatives: drone defence, strengthening the EU’s eastern border defences, air defence, and the development of a European Space Shield, reports RTE.
The measures are aimed at ensuring the armed forces of EU nations are able to “anticipate, prepare for, and respond to any crisis, including high-intensity conflict,” reports RTE.
To meet these objectives, countries will be urged to address weaknesses across various military domains, so that full preparedness can be reached by 2030, reports RTE.
Areas targeted include air and missile defence, artillery, mobility for military forces, cyber capabilities, artificial intelligence, electronic warfare, munitions, drone operations and defences, as well as maritime and ground combat readiness.
The Commission states that improvements in these areas can be accelerated through joint purchasing agreements among member states to enhance the EU’s defence manufacturing capabilities,
“A simplified and integrated European defence equipment market is key for scaling up production, achieving economies of scale, and driving innovation,” a statement said, reports RTE.
“By 2030, the goal is to establish a genuine EU-wide market with harmonised rules that enable industry to deliver at speed and volume. The commission will track industrial capacity – starting with air and missile defence, drones, and space systems – to ensure Europe can meet its most urgent needs,” reports RTE.
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In June, the Irish Government declared its backing of the EU’s SAFE initiative, which is part of a broader effort to direct €800 billion into European defence manufacturing.
Ireland plans to use its participation in the scheme to purchase systems related to artillery, air defence, and cybersecurity, and to safeguard vital marine and infrastructure facilities, reports RTE.
Ireland is also expected to join other member states in procuring vital defence equipment in strategic sectors.
Launching the road map, Ms Kallas said: “There must be a major buildup of European defence capabilities. Russia has no capacity to launch an attack on the European Union today, but it could prepare itself in the years to come. Danger will not disappear, even if the war in Ukraine ends,” reports RTE.
She noted that each member state will retain control over what equipment they choose to develop or buy, when to buy it, and from whom, reports RTE.
This week marked the first gathering of the newly established ‘Drones Coalition’, which is being led by the Netherlands and Latvia, reports RTE.
“Drones are already redefining warfare,” Ms Kallas said, reports RTE.
“Having drone defenses is no longer optional for anyone. Today we propose a new anti-drone system to be fully operational by the end of 2027 and this will be done, of course, in close cooperation with NATO,” reports RTE.
The Eastern Flank Watch would involve both a physical and technological barrier—such as anti-tank ditches, dragon’s teeth obstacles, re-flooding former swamps, and a defensive drone network—helping eastern EU nations shield themselves from drone strikes,
EU defence commissioner Andrius Kubilius told journalists that Europe currently lacks strong capabilities for detecting and neutralising drones using affordable methods, reports RTE.
“We need to start to invest in detection capabilities, both in the frontier region, but also in the countries which want to develop such capabilities in order to be ready to defend themselves against any provocations, and then we need to develop capabilities to destroy drones in a cost effective ways, with antidrone interceptors, electronic warfare,” reports RTE.
He added that Latvia has already begun deploying a system of acoustic sensors to help identify drone activity,
Ms Kallas said that although the EU is closely aligned with NATO in this effort, countries not in NATO—such as Ireland—won’t take part in NATO’s operational planning “but it doesn’t mean that they don’t need the defence, regarding drones and the antidrone systems,” reports RTE.
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