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Europe’s Leading Defence Powers Join Forces to Develop Low-Cost Air-Defence Drones
France, Germany, Italy, Poland & UK team up on €multi-million project to develop low-cost autonomous air-defence drones & missiles. First delivery by 2027.
ND
by News Desk
2026-02-20
Europe’s Leading Defence Powers Join Forces to Develop Low-Cost Air-Defence Drones

Europe’s five biggest defence spenders—France, Germany, Italy, Poland, and United Kingdom—have announced a joint initiative to develop low-cost air-defence systems, including autonomous drones and missiles, aiming for production within 12 months, ministers said on Friday.

The project, named Low-Cost Effectors and Autonomous Platforms (LEAP), comes in response to lessons from the war in Ukraine, where autonomous interceptor drones have proved to be a cost-effective alternative to traditional air-defence missiles. European allies are eager to replicate these capabilities to enhance continental defence amid growing concerns over Washington’s long-term commitment to European security.

Britain’s Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, Luke Pollard, described the initiative as a “multi-million pound, multi-million euro commitment” designed to accelerate the deployment of advanced autonomous air-defence technology. “We’re really hopeful that this will produce an effector that... will be in production within 12 months,” he said.

In military terms, “effectors” are the components of a system that produce a physical effect, while “autonomous platforms” refer to unmanned systems capable of independent decision-making. The LEAP program will focus on drones, missile effectors, and payloads that are both low-cost and capable of rapid deployment.

Polish Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz emphasized the urgency of adopting such technology: “Technologies are changing, and we must respond very quickly. This is the challenge of our times.”

According to the UK government, the first operational systems under the LEAP initiative are expected to be delivered by 2027. The program also includes joint production and procurement, ensuring that participating nations can deploy and maintain the systems collaboratively, strengthening Europe’s strategic autonomy in defence.

The announcement reflects Europe’s broader push to modernize its military capabilities in the wake of the Ukraine conflict, demonstrating a clear commitment to leveraging autonomous technologies to offset rising defence costs while enhancing rapid-response capabilities across the continent.
Tagged:

LEAPProject

EuropeDefence

DroneTechnology

AutonomousWeapons
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