Fri, 20 Feb 2026

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 UK agrees drone defence plan with four EU allies

The scheme will seek to take inspiration from Ukraine's drone manufacturing programme.
The UK and four major European military powers (Germany, France, Italy, and Poland) will collaborate on developing new air defense systems, including low-cost missiles and autonomous drones. The project aims to create affordable technology inspired by Ukraine's rapid development of cheap drones to counter Russian attacks. A "lightweight, affordable" surface-to-air weapon is the first priority, with a goal of delivering the initial project within a year. The initiative marks a strengthened partnership between the UK and Europe after previous disagreements over defense funding. Each country has committed millions of pounds or euros to the scheme. Ukraine's successful development of domestic drone manufacturing in response to Russian aggression has been cited as an inspiration for the project. The goal is to match the cost of threats with the cost of defense, as traditional systems are impractical and costly against low-cost drones.
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