On Tuesday, May 5, 2026, the European Commission announced the EU-Ukraine Drone Alliance initiative, aimed at unmanned systems manufacturers from European Union member states, the European Economic Area, the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries of Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway, and Ukraine, to build comprehensive capabilities in drones and counter-drone systems.
Photo: 33rd Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Ground Forces
The deadline for submitting applications to participate in the initiative is May 25, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. CEST.
As the European Commission emphasizes in its rationale, recent repeated violations of EU member states’ airspace by Russian drones (although there have also been incidents involving Ukrainian drones, editor’s note) have demonstrated the urgent need to create a flexible, agile, and state-of-the-art European capability to counter unmanned aerial vehicles.
Drones and counter-drone systems are among the priority capability areas identified and agreed by the member states. The Defence Readiness Roadmap 2030 emphasizes the need to address this capability as a priority, taking into account the level of threats and doing so in a coordinated manner, so that it benefits EU security. Efforts to strengthen European drone and counter-drone capabilities would form the framework of the European Drone Defence Initiative, in line with the proposal included in the Defence Readiness Roadmap 2030 (European Commission approved 1.07 EUR billion for 57 defense projects).
Although the member states have already begun work on drones and counter-drone systems within the framework of the dedicated Capability Coalition, the European Commission has committed to intensifying its support for member states’ efforts, including by facilitating dialogue and engagement with industry and strengthening cooperation with Ukraine.
Stronger European capabilities in drones and counter-drone systems should be based on the lessons learned from Ukraine regarding the key value of creating innovative drone and counter-drone ecosystems, linking research and development with production, and relying on scalable production capabilities and continuous technological development.
Therefore, the European Commission, in close cooperation with Ukraine, is launching the EU-Ukraine Drone Alliance.
The Alliance will be an industry-led initiative and will bring together system manufacturers and innovators, including start-ups and scale-ups, as well as end users from the EU, EEA-EFTA states, and Ukraine, with the aim of contributing to ongoing European efforts to build comprehensive drone and counter-drone capabilities. Close cooperation is expected with the member state-led Priority Capability Coalition, focused on drones and counter-drone systems, thereby contributing to the delivery of concrete capabilities.
To achieve these objectives, the European Commission is seeking eligible applicants that are legal entities with proven experience and expertise in the EU and/or Ukrainian ecosystem of military drones and counter-drone systems, as well as a commitment to actively participate in the Alliance.
The objective of this first call is to select the founding members of the Alliance, which will establish its first Board and be able to shape its activities and priorities.
The European Commission, in close cooperation with Ukraine, will support and facilitate the establishment and work of the EU-Ukraine Drone Alliance.
>>>Application Form<<<
We are taking measures to counter the growing threat of drone warfare and to strengthen EU and UA security and defence.
Applications are now open for founding members of a new EU-Ukraine Drone Alliance.
➡️https://t.co/wvFqk28k93#StandWithUkraine
— European Commission (@EU_Commission) May 5, 2026
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