EU Unveils Defence Roadmap: Air Defence, Drones and Space Systems Take Priority

Plan sets milestones to 2030, builds industrial capacity and aligns with NATO while fast-tracking “readiness” projects.

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The European Commission today presented its new Defence Roadmap, a comprehensive plan to strengthen the EU’s military capabilities, inviting Member States to act on a shared set of priorities and deadlines through 2030. Branded “Defence Readiness Roadmap - Preserving Peace 2030,” the plan sets measurable targets because, as Commission President Ursula von der Leyen put it, “only what is measured gets done.” She warned that recent threats show Europe is at risk and must protect “every citizen and every square inch” with unity, solidarity and resolve.

Four EU-level initiatives

The Roadmap launches four flagship initiatives:

  • European Unmanned Systems (Drones) Initiative

  • Eastern Flank Surveillance

  • European Air Defence

  • Space Defence Shield

According to the Commission, these tracks define capability gaps, accelerate defence investment across Member States and guide the EU toward full defence readiness by 2030.

Readiness through Alliances

The blueprint expects national armed forces to anticipate, prepare for and respond to any crisis, including high-intensity conflict. It calls on Member States to complete Capability Alliances in nine core areas:

  1. Air and Missile Defence

  2. Strategic Enablers (lift, logistics, ISR, etc.)

  3. Military Mobility

  4. Artillery

  5. Cyber, AI and Electronic Warfare

  6. Missiles & Munitions

  7. Drones & Counter-Drone

  8. Land Combat

  9. Naval Forces

EU Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius said the goal is to strengthen Europe’s ability to deter and defend on land, in the air, at sea, in cyber and in space, while directly contributing to NATO objectives.

Industrial base, investment and a single market for kit

A central pillar is building a resilient European defence industrial base capable of delivering required capabilities quickly and at scale. The Commission proposes:

  • Simplified procedures to speed up defence investment,

  • Steps toward a more integrated EU market for defence equipment, and

  • Ongoing monitoring of industrial capacity.

To meet urgent needs, the Commission will start with air defence, drones and space systems, ensuring Europe can cover its most pressing gaps first.

The Roadmap sits on the ReArm Europe Plan / Readiness 2030 platform, which offers Member States greater budgetary flexibility to boost production and readiness, and includes explicit support for Ukraine. The plan also outlines pan-European flagship projects aimed at achieving “full defence readiness by 2030,” High Representative Kaja Kallas said.

A continental military mobility zone by 2027

Finally, the Roadmap includes plans for a pan-European military mobility zone by 2027, with harmonised rules and a network of land, air and sea corridors to move troops and equipment rapidly across Europe. Developed in close coordination with NATO, the scheme is designed to sharpen Europe’s ability to respond quickly to crises.

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