EU-Ukraine drone cooperation will combine Kyiv’s battlefield-tested technology with the European Union’s industrial capacity under a new strategic defence partnership announced in Kyiv on Wednesday, 15 July.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a letter of intent outlining closer cooperation between the European and Ukrainian defence industries. The initiative is expected to focus particularly on drones, counter-drone systems and other unmanned technologies.
“We will combine our strengths and create joint defence industrial production,” von der Leyen said during her visit to Ukraine.
The two sides have not yet published detailed information about funding, production targets, participating companies or where the new manufacturing facilities will be located.
EU-Ukraine drone cooperation builds on battlefield experience
The planned partnership aims to connect Ukraine’s rapidly developing defence technology sector with the EU’s larger manufacturing base and financial resources.
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraine has expanded the production and use of aerial, maritime and ground-based drones. These systems have become central to reconnaissance, logistics, air defence and attacks against military targets.
The EU, meanwhile, is seeking to increase its capacity to manufacture defence equipment and reduce fragmentation between national industries. Cooperation with Ukrainian companies could give European producers faster access to technologies that have been continuously adapted under battlefield conditions.
According to the Ukrainian presidency, the letter of intent is the first step towards a broader Drone Deal between Ukraine and the European Union and a strategic defence industrial partnership.
Joint production could include drones and air defence
Ukraine previously said that an EU-level agreement could cover the purchase of Ukrainian defence products, air-defence equipment, counter-drone capabilities and unmanned maritime systems.
The structure of the initiative has not yet been finalised. It remains unclear whether production will take place mainly in Ukraine, within EU member states or through joint ventures operating in several countries.
The European Commission opened a call in May for founding members of an EU-Ukraine Drone Alliance. The industry-led initiative is intended to bring together manufacturers, technology companies, start-ups and military end users from the EU, Ukraine and the European Economic Area.
Its objective is to support the development of a broader European capacity covering both drones and systems designed to detect and neutralise them.
European countries already have bilateral drone agreements
The EU initiative follows a series of bilateral partnerships between Ukraine and individual European governments.
Norway and Ukraine agreed in April to establish closer defence cooperation, including support for Ukrainian drone production and the future manufacture of Ukrainian-designed drones in Norway. Kyiv will share operational data and lessons learned from the war with Norwegian partners.
Germany has also discussed large-scale joint production with Ukraine, while several other European governments have explored agreements based on Ukrainian technology and local manufacturing.
The EU-level framework could connect these separate projects and establish common rules for financing, procurement, intellectual property and cross-border industrial cooperation.
Drones become central to Europe’s defence strategy
The partnership reflects a wider change in European defence planning. Relatively inexpensive unmanned systems have demonstrated that they can destroy costly military equipment, monitor large areas and compensate for shortages of personnel or conventional weapons.
European governments are also investing in counter-drone technology as concerns grow over the vulnerability of airports, energy infrastructure and military installations.
For the Nordic countries, cooperation with Ukraine could complement national projects already under development. Norway’s bilateral agreement provides one model, while Denmark, Sweden and Finland have all increased defence investment and support for Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion.
The next stage will depend on negotiations over funding, industrial participation and the protection of sensitive Ukrainian technology. A formal agreement could give Ukraine additional production capacity while helping the EU build a more integrated and adaptable defence industry.
