EU Launches “Flagship” Defence Projects to Counter Drones and Protect Eastern Border
The European Commission’s new “flagship” defence projects aim to protect the EU’s eastern borders from hybrid threats and drone incursions while strengthening Europe’s defence industry base.
BRUSSELS — The European Commission today unveiled a package of flagship defence initiatives designed to strengthen Europe’s collective security and counter rising hybrid threats, including a surge in drone activity along the continent’s eastern border.
The plan, announced under the broader “Rearm Europe” framework, includes four central projects: the European Drone Defence Initiative, the Eastern Flank Watch, the European Air Shield, and the European Space Shield. Together, they represent the most ambitious attempt yet to consolidate Europe’s fragmented defence capabilities and industrial base.
European officials describe the initiative as a response to “the evolving threat landscape” — particularly after repeated drone incursions near NATO’s eastern borders and growing pressure to close capability gaps revealed by the war in Ukraine.
“Europe can no longer afford strategic fragmentation,” said EU Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton. “We are building a defence union that can detect, deter, and respond to threats in the air, space, and cyberspace — with European technology and European industry.”
Strengthening Europe’s Defence Base
The flagship initiatives are expected to channel part of the €800 billion allocated under the Rearm Europe investment plan, including the SAFE instrument — worth €150 billion — specifically dedicated to bolstering the continent’s defence industrial and technological base.
Funding will focus on cross-border cooperation between EU member states, joint R&D programs, and accelerated certification for defence products developed within the EU. The goal, according to Commission sources, is to “close critical gaps in air defence, electronic warfare, and counter-UAS systems” by 2030.
Focus on the Eastern Flank
The Eastern Flank Watch and European Drone Defence Initiative are directly aimed at protecting EU and NATO borders with Belarus, Ukraine, and Russia. Officials said the projects would include multi-layered radar systems, drone detection grids, and shared situational awareness platforms that link national command centers in real time.
“Hybrid and drone-based attacks are already testing our border resilience,” one EU defence official told Adria Defense. “This package gives member states both funding and framework to act collectively.”
Implications for the SEE and CE Region
For Southeast and Central European countries, including Croatia, Hungary, Slovakia, and Romania, the new projects represent an opportunity to integrate local defence industries into pan-European procurement chains. Croatia’s recently announced Defence Industry Cluster, backed by the government and ALAN agency, could directly align with these EU-led initiatives.
Analysts note that the Commission’s timing is deliberate — coinciding with rising defence spending across Europe and national efforts to consolidate local industries into coordinated export platforms.
“Brussels is clearly moving from policy statements to concrete capability programs,” said an industry expert based in Berlin. “The next step will be to see how fast these flagship projects translate into contracts — and which countries benefit first.”
Next Steps
Member states are expected to nominate industrial consortia for participation in the four initiatives by early 2026, with the first funding calls under the SAFE program scheduled before mid-year.
The Commission has also hinted that future tenders will favor EU-origin technologies and production, aligning with Germany’s new “Europe First” procurement policy and the broader aim of reducing dependency on U.S. and non-EU suppliers.
