EPRS_BRI_2025_772885_EN.pdf — page 9

Military drones 
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increasingly capable, with payloads sufficient for strike missions in support of ground troops – a 
trend that has gained momentum over the past decade. However, EU countries appear slow to 
recognise or act on this shift. According to an analyst, their 'fixation' on the Eurodrone has come at 
the cost of expanding and modernising their tactical UAV fleets.  
Considering Europe's shared operational needs and the expertise of its defence industry, investing 
in one or two common tactical UAV models might have been a more effective approach. Instead, 
large spenders have opted for domestic projects or off-the-shelf purchases, further fragmenting 
the market and increasing reliance on non-EU suppliers. However, there has been some considerable 
movement in this regard. Spain recently approved a close to €495 million investment in the SIRTAP 
tactical UAV, with funding spread over eight years from 2023 to 2031. Manufactured by Airbus, the 
drone is expected to have a 20-hour endurance, 6 000 km ceiling, 750 kg take-off weight and a 
150 kg payload – features comparable to the Leonardo FALCO EVO, which is used in the Middle East 
but not by any European military. Partly in response to Turkish UAV advances, Greece has moved to 
strengthen its domestic capabilities while continuing to source systems abroad – particularly from 
Israel. In September 2022, Hellenic Aerospace Industries and three Greek universities unveiled 
Archytas, a multi-role, dual-use VTOL UAV with strong surveillance and reconnaissance functions. 
Then, in January 2023, Greece announced that it was launching the development of Grypas, a 
modular combat UAV with greater payload capacity. A prototype is expected by 2025, with Greece 
as the first customer – though other European buyers may follow suit. Meanwhile, budgetary 
constraints or urgent needs have led some EU countries to buy ready-made, non-EU UAVs. For 
example, Poland became the first EU customer of the Turkish Bayraktar TB2 in 2021 (also used a lot 
by Ukraine in the early phase of Russia's full-scale invasion), ordering four units, and later entered 
into a leasing deal with General Atomics for MQ-9A Reapers. 
A defence tech boom with a strong focus on drones and AI is currently taking place in Europe. For 
instance, Helsing, located in Munich, focuses on integrating AI with military applications. The 
company has developed the HX-2 drone, an intelligent strike UAV designed to enhance battlefield 
decision-making, and in July 2024 raised €450 million in funding. Helsing has secured a contract to 
supply the Ukrainian military with 6 000 HX-2 combat drones, following an earlier delivery of 
4 000  HF-1 drones. The HX-2 is an AI-powered, X-Wing precision drone with a range of up to 
100 km, designed to be resistant to electronic warfare and jamming, and capable of operating in 
swarms under human control. Quantum Systems, also based in Munich, specialises in small, dual-
use UAS that feature electric vertical take-off and landing capabilities. In September 2024, the 
EU-NATO cooperation 
The Strategic Compass and the 2022 NATO Strategic Concept both identify emerging and disruptive 
technologies (EDTs), which include drones, as strategic priorities for EU-NATO cooperation. This shared 
focus is further emphasised in the third EU-NATO Joint Declaration, which calls for deeper collaboration 
in defence innovation. NATO has launched the Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic 
(DIANA), a dedicated body providing funding, mentoring, and access to test centres for dual-use 
technologies. DIANA is supported by the NATO Innovation Fund (NIF), a €1 billion venture capital 
initiative. In 2024, the European Investment Fund signed a Memorandum of Understanding with NIF to 
boost support for defence and security-focused start-ups across Europe. NATO also released an updated 
artificial intelligence strategy in 2024, prioritising responsible use, rapid adoption and protection of allied 
technologies from adversarial threats.  
The EDA is closely collaborating with NATO's Joint Capability Group on Unmanned Aircraft Systems 
(JCGUAS) to boost the effectiveness and interoperability of UAS/RPAS for EU defence. During meetings 
held from 31 March to 3 April at a US military base in Garmisch, Germany, the EDA shared its approach to 
aligning European UAS capability development with NATO standards. The EU has also joined NATO-led 
drills like REPMUS, focusing on maritime autonomous systems. NATO has developed several key 
frameworks addressing the use and countering of UAS, including the Strategic Concept of Employment 
for UAS, the counter-UAS work programme, and operational initiatives like the alliance ground surveillance 
programme, which together guide NATO's approach to both exploiting and defending against drones.