Ukraine and the EU are launching a drone alliance: how it will work

Ukraine and the European Commission are launching the EU-Ukraine Drone Alliance. The Alliance will bring together manufacturers and end-users to strengthen Europe’s capabilities in the field of drones and counter-drone operations. The European Commission is currently seeking founding members to form the Alliance Council – the body that will subsequently make decisions.

The Alliance will establish links between manufacturers and government officials from EU member states and Ukraine, identify vulnerabilities in supply chains, facilitate the creation of joint ventures, accelerate production, and more.

In 2026, the Alliance is expected to bring together European and Ukrainian companies, government institutions, manufacturers, developers, testing grounds, and members of the drone and counter-drone coalitions. By 2027, the initiative is expected to launch joint ventures between Ukrainian and European companies, develop technology roadmaps, propose interoperability standards, accelerate production, and introduce mutual recognition of qualification and certification procedures.

Drone manufacturers that are not subject to sanctions and are registered in Ukraine, the EU, or European Economic Area member states (Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein) are eligible to join the Alliance. They must not be under the control of a third country or a third-country entity. Manufacturers wishing to join the council are invited to submit an application. The deadline is 25 May, with selection results to be announced in early June.

As a reminder, Ukraine and the EU previously launched EU4UA Defence Tech. This is also a joint project, but one focused on supporting Ukrainian defence innovation. The initiative provides €5m in funding, of which €3.3m is already being directed to grants, with the remainder going towards regulatory support, events, and similar activities.