Where drone developers see the EU getting it right, and wrong, on defense

Drone developers assess the EU’s defense approach, acknowledging progress and pointing to legal and procurement challenges. At Berlin’s New Age Defense conference, German and Ukrainian drone firms outlined needs from EU and national authorities as Europe heightens its defense posture. The discussion highlighted substantial EU financing since 2025, including 150 billion euros in SAFE defense loans and a 1.5 billion euro European Defense Industry Program, alongside Ursula von der Leyen’s announced drone wall to protect the eastern flank. Ukraine-related loans of about 90 billion euros were also cited. Speakers argued that obstacles are largely legal rather than technical, and urged targeted procurement experiments to spur adoption.