EU Joins Forces with Ukrainian Drone Industry for the First Time

Ukraine industries will join the EU-sponsored project in developing small drones, the Commission announced Tuesday, April 30. 

For the first time, they will participate in an EU- financially supported project under the European Defence Fund (EDF) to join a project focused on building AI-driven drones to work in air, land, and maritime environments. 

Kyiv will work alongside nine other industries to build a drone fleet that utilises a combination of hydrogen propulsion and hybrid engines.

Ukraine’s drone industry has flourished in the past years. Under constant pressure from Russian attacks, Kyiv turned to drones to up their game on their battlefield, effectively changing the nature of warfare.

It paid off: the industry now manufactures about 4 million purpose-built drones per year, while local start-ups have made huge advances in drone technology.

More than drones

The EDF will spend €910 million this year across 17 areas, from land and naval systems to cyber and space.

The money is split into two main pots: €360 million for 39 research projects, and €539 million for 23 capability development projects.

Beyond drones, the EU will also invest in next-generation European helicopter technologies, missile systems, new energy supplies, and water filtration systems, among others.

The EDF was created in 2021 to answer the EU member states’ needs for new arms technologies to avoid dependence on foreign countries, such as the US.

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