EU Commission to propose new anti-drone system be fully operational by end-2027
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FILE PHOTO: A police officer stands below as firefighters work on the destroyed roof of a house, after Russian drones violated Polish airspace during an attack on Ukraine, with some being shot down by Poland with the backing from its NATO allies, in Wyryki-Wola, Lublin Voivodeship, Poland, September 10, 2025. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel/File Photo
BRUSSELS - The European Commission will propose on Thursday that a new counter-drone initiative should be fully functional by the end of 2027, according to a document seen by Reuters.
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said last month it was time for Europe to build a "drone wall" to protect its eastern flank, hours after some 20 Russian drones entered Polish airspace.
The concept has since morphed into a broader "European Drone Defence Initiative" including a continent-wide web of anti-drone systems in an effort to win support from EU capitals.
The proposal, set to be included in a defence policy "roadmap" to be presented on Thursday, will aim for the new anti-drone capabilities to reach initial capacity by the end of next year and become fully operational by the end of 2027, according to a draft of the document. REUTERS