The European Commission has presented an action plan to address security threats from drones and weather balloons. The EU plans to spend 200 million euros over the next two years on drone and counter-drone technology. The initiative responds to member states' demands for a unified strategy against incidents at airports and critical infrastructure.
The action plan constitutes a framework to enhance the EU's preparedness and resilience, according to a press release. The Commission proposes a coordinated civil-military industrial mapping to promote innovation and interoperability. To strengthen testing activities, the establishment of a new EU Counter-Drone Centre of Excellence is announced, along with the development of a certification system for counter-drone systems. The report also proposes contributions to Eastern Flank Watch, an initiative currently led by Finland and Poland, and opens up for deeper collaborations with non-EU countries such as the United Kingdom and Norway.
The Commission intends to present a "drone security package" to adapt the regulatory framework for civilian drones to the current security situation. This includes measures to secure supply chains and the introduction of the "EU Trusted Drone" label to identify reliable equipment on the market. Guidelines will also be developed to protect critical infrastructure and manage high-altitude threats, such as weather balloons.
Regarding technical development, the Commission emphasizes the importance of utilizing 5G networks and AI software to detect and track drones, including swarms. An expression of interest will be sent out to member states and industry to accelerate testing and deployment of 5G-based detection.
To support member states' response capabilities, the Commission seeks joint procurement of counter-drone systems and the development of European command systems. An annual large-scale EU exercise is proposed to test the cooperation and synergies between civilian and military actors. The work will also form the basis for the European Drone Defence Initiative and be linked to cooperation with Ukraine.
Implementation will take place in dialogue with member states and industry. The Commission proposes that member countries appoint national coordinators for drone security to oversee the implementation.