European Drone Clubs Stall Strategic Autonomy
European armed forces continue to depend on the imports of advanced drones from the United States and Israel. To contribute to their strategic autonomy, Europeans need to first align their strategic requirements to deliver a joint European drone solution, argues Dominika Kunertova in this CSS Policy Perspective.
Key Points:
- European-made advanced drones would make an important contribution to achieving EU strategic autonomy.
In 2021, only five European countries operate advanced drones, all of which are either American or Israeli unmanned systems.
- Europeans lack their own operational advanced drone capability due to divergent requirements and industrial rivalries.
- The long-term solution is to break the competing “drone clubs” that have turned efficient multinational cooperation into an oxymoron.
- Due to delays and the dubious competitiveness of the Eurodrone (still in development), Europeans should channel their efforts into next-generation drone capability.