€130 million for drones and counter-drone measures: EU strengthens protection of its borders
Drone Industry
The European Commission has allocated an additional €130 million to strengthen EU member states’ capabilities in the use of drones and counter-drone measures. Total funding for surveillance and counter-drone technologies under the EU’s internal security funds has exceeded €500 million.
The European Commission’s press service announced this, Censor.NET reports.
Improving the response to emerging security threats
"This step is part of the EU’s efforts to strengthen border surveillance and improve the response to emerging security threats. The new funding supplements an initial tranche of €250 million (announced previously) and a further €169 million allocated earlier this year to purchase surveillance drones and related equipment for Frontex (the European Border and Coast Guard Agency) and member states," the press service said.
This brings total funding for surveillance and counter-drone technologies under home affairs funds to more than half a billion euros.
The funding is expected to help EU member states improve situational awareness, protect external borders more effectively and respond to risks associated with the unauthorised or hostile use of drones.
As previously reported, in February, the European Commission presented the EU Action Plan on Drone and Counter-Drone Security, aimed at protecting airspace and critical infrastructure from threats associated with the malicious use of drones; the plan includes establishing a Counter-Drone Centre of Excellence to support innovation in this field.
This funding also supplements the resources already available to member states under the European Defence Fund to develop advanced drone and counter-drone technologies. Under the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) programme, member states have also committed to jointly procuring drone systems and counter-drone equipment.
