The European Commission has presented to EU member states a comprehensive plan to strengthen Europe's defence capabilities, including measures to counter drones and other threats from the air, sea and space.

Source: press service for the European Commission, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The Defence Roadmap outlines clear objectives and milestones to close capability gaps, accelerate defence investment across all member states, and guide the EU's progress towards full defence readiness by 2030.

The European Commission emphasised that strengthening Europe's defence also means firm support for Ukraine.

Quote from European Commissioner for Defence Andrius Kubilius: "Our roadmap today creates conditions for clear plans, timetables, deliverables and indicators and a clear reporting and monitoring system, to ramp up procurement and production, bring permanent defence innovation, build European defence flagship projects and produce with, in and for Ukraine.

Our roadmap shows all the major milestones to achieve Defence Readiness by 2030, so we can deter Russian aggression, prevent war and preserve peace. Our policy is production, our purpose is peace."

Details: For swift action where a joint approach is most effective, the Defence Roadmap proposes four initial European Readiness Flagships : the European Drone Defence Initiative, the Eastern Flank Watch, the European Air Shield and the European Space Shield.

"These will reinforce Europe's ability to deter and defend across land, air, sea, cyber and space while contributing directly to NATO capability targets," the Commission stated.

The Commission explained that achieving full defence readiness means ensuring that member states' armed forces can anticipate any crisis, including high-intensity conflict, and be ready to respond effectively.

The roadmap calls on member states to finalise the formation of Capability Coalitions in nine key areas to close critical gaps through joint development and procurement.

"These are air and missile defence; strategic enablers; military mobility; artillery systems; cyber, AI, electronic warfare; missile and ammunition; drones and counter-drones; ground combat; and maritime," the Commission clarified.

The roadmap is based on the ReArm Europe Plan/Readiness 2030, which foresees a significant increase in public and private investment, giving member states greater financial flexibility to boost production and readiness.

The European Commission will present the roadmap to EU leaders at the upcoming summit, along with proposals for EU-wide flagship projects that will guide Europe towards full defence readiness by 2030.

The roadmap also includes plans to establish by 2027 an EU-wide military mobility area with harmonised rules and a network of land, air and sea routes for the rapid movement of troops and equipment across Europe. Developed in close coordination with NATO, this plan will enhance Europe's capacity to respond quickly to crises, the Commission noted.

Background:

• Earlier, European Pravda reported that the Defence Roadmap presents the idea of a "drone wall" not as a regional project for the protection of the EU's eastern flank, as initially planned, but as a broader project covering the entire EU territory.
• NATO also reported that it has developed new weapons for Ukraine's Armed Forces to counter guided aerial bombs and Shahed drones.

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