The European Commission unveiled on Thursday (16/10) four flagship European defense projects – including a drone defense system and a plan to strengthen eastern borders – as part of an effort to prepare the continent for self-defense by 2030. European Commissioner for Defense, Andrius Kubilius, stated that the defense roadmap anticipates Europe will invest 6.8 trillion euros by 2035. “The threat will not disappear even when the war in Ukraine ends. It is clear that we must strengthen our defenses against Russia,” said the EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, in a press conference.
The European Commission announced that two of the “flagship” initiatives are particularly urgent:
• the Drone Defense Initiative, formerly known as the “drone wall” and
• the Eastern Flank Watch, which aims to “strengthen the EU’s eastern borders on land, air and sea.”
The Commission also announced that both projects should be in initial operation by the end of next year.
The drone defense project should be fully operational one year later, while the “Eastern Flank Watch” should also reach corresponding operational level by late 2028.
The European Air Shield
The Commission has also proposed a European Air Shield for defense against missiles and other aerial threats, and a European Space Shield to protect European space assets and services.
The leaders of the EU’s 27 member governments are expected to decide on approving the four proposals and agree on who will lead the projects that ultimately receive the green light.
