The European Union has formally launched the EU-Ukraine Drone Alliance, a new partnership aimed at accelerating the development and production of drones and
counter-drone technology as Kyiv continues to face Russian attacks and Europe strengthens its defence capabilities.
The announcement was made during the third EU-Ukraine Defence Industry Forum in Kyiv. The initiative will bring together companies, start-ups, researchers, armed forces and other defence users from across the EU and Ukraine to develop advanced unmanned systems and technologies designed to counter hostile drones.
The alliance forms part of the EU's broader strategy to expand Europe's defence industrial base and improve cooperation with Ukraine in one of the fastest-growing areas of modern warfare.
Its immediate priority is to implement the Drone Deal, unveiled by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during her visit to Kyiv on 15 July. The programme aims to encourage joint ventures between Ukrainian and European defence companies, accelerate the production of next-generation drone technologies and strengthen Europe's long-term military preparedness.
EU officials said the partnership is intended both to help Ukraine meet its immediate battlefield requirements and to reinforce the bloc's own defence capabilities for the future.
The European Commission is now preparing the alliance's first formal meeting, which is scheduled to take place in Brussels in September.
Eighteen organisations have been selected as the alliance's founding members following an open call for expressions of interest. European participants include Croatia's ORQA, Spain's Indra Group, Italy's Fincantieri, Poland's WB Electronics (WB Group), Switzerland-based Destinus, France's Delair, RSI Europe, Denmark's TERMA A/S and Germany's Quantum Systems.
The Ukrainian members are Skyfall Industries, Greentech Harvest, Tencore, Deviro, Vyriy Industry, ATHLON AVIA, TAF Industries, UFORCE and F-Drones.
The European Commission first proposed the alliance in President von der Leyen's 2025 State of the European Union address as part of plans to create a stronger European defence drone industry. The project has since become a central element of the EU's Defence Readiness Roadmap 2030 and the Action Plan on Drone and Counter-Drone Security, published earlier this year.
The alliance follows the completion of a selection process for founding members, with applications closing on 25 May 2026. It is expected to serve as a platform for closer industrial cooperation between the EU and Ukraine while accelerating innovation in military drone technology. Photo by АрміяInform, Wikimedia commons.