The European Commission has announced five new large-scale defense projects aimed at bolstering continental security through joint procurement and capability development.
The initiatives, supported by a €325 million investment, focus on drone and counter-drone systems, maritime and seabed defense, space, air power, and missile defense. A primary strategic goal is strengthening the eastern flank, stretching from Finland to Bulgaria, amid heightened security concerns following recent drone incursions. Eighteen member states will participate in all projects, with Ukraine joining four of them.
This push for teamwork comes as the European Defence Agency reports that collaborative procurement remains stagnant, representing only 24% of defense investment in 2025. National acquisition cycles continue to be unsynchronized, limiting joint investment opportunities. The need for unity was highlighted last month by the collapse of the Franco-German Future Combat Air System, primarily due to commercial disputes between Dassault and Airbus.
Despite that specific program's failure, broader investment is accelerating. The European Investment Bank recently finalized a record €3 billion loan to Airbus for commercial projects, with EIB President Nadia Calviño framing it as evidence of Europe reclaiming strategic autonomy.
Tech Sovereignty Commissioner Henna Virkkunen stressed the urgency of joint production. "There is a real need to move faster, produce together and invest in security," Virkkunen stated. Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius noted that the projects align with a combined funding ambition of roughly €190 billion by 2036, underscoring their role in military readiness and strategic autonomy.
The announcement precedes the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, where allies will discuss meeting the new defense spending target of 3.5% of GDP by 2035, a benchmark driven by US President Donald Trump.