Five European nations announced Friday a joint program to develop low-cost air defense systems and autonomous drones using battle-tested technology from Ukraine’s four-year war with Russia. The E5 group — France, Poland, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Italy — signed an agreement to jointly invest in what the group calls the Low-Cost Autonomous Effectors and Platforms (LEAP) program, aimed at strengthening Europe’s defense against Russian drone incursions.
The initiative reflects growing European concern about defending border airspace without the expense of using million-dollar military aircraft to intercept thousand-dollar drones. European leaders said the program also signals the continent’s commitment to building its own defense capabilities amid criticism from the United States about NATO spending.
The Cost Problem
Poland has collaborated with Ukraine on drone technology through joint military training programs and manufacturing projects. This partnership became urgent when Russian drones entered Polish airspace in September 2025. Poland responded by scrambling military aircraft worth millions of dollars to counter drones that cost only thousands, illustrating the cost mismatch the LEAP program aims to address.
Luke Pollard, Britain’s minister for defence preparedness and industry, said the E5 partners are “redoubling efforts, investing together in the next generation of air defence and in autonomous systems to strengthen the NATO shield.”
“We have some of the best teams across the planet to knock down air threats,” Pollard said. “The challenge is being effective at bringing down missiles, drones and other relatively low-cost threats that we face. We have to make sure we balance the cost of the threats with the cost of the defence.”
Europe’s Defence Initiative
Polish Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said the group signed an accord to jointly invest in drone-based attack capabilities and low-cost defense systems, including the use of artificial intelligence for drone payloads.
“Combat technologies and techniques are changing rapidly; we must respond with speed and in an appropriate way,” Kosiniak-Kamysz said. He emphasized the group’s commitment to “joint development of drone-based attack capabilities, joint low-cost production and joint acquisition of drone effectors — that is, combat payloads — using artificial intelligence.”
Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s high representative for foreign policy, described European security as “more uncertain than it has been in decades,” citing Russian aggression, instability in the Middle East, China’s growing power, and “a reshaped alliance with the United States.”
“If we want to keep our continent safe, we must strengthen our hard power,” Kallas said. “The good news is that we are already investing record sums in defense. Europe is stepping up, but it is not about competing with NATO. It is about making Europe stronger within NATO. A stronger Europe also makes the alliance stronger.”
Pressure From Washington and Moscow
European officials have moved to bolster defense spending in response to Russian aggression in Ukraine and criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump over NATO defense commitments. Trump has repeatedly criticized European nations for not spending enough on defense and has made controversial statements about NATO allies and territorial disputes, including repeated threats regarding Greenland, a territory under Danish sovereignty.
Russia has been attributed responsibility by the West for some drone incidents over European territory. Russia denies intentional involvement in such incidents, saying the drones’ entry into European airspace was not deliberate and that Russia bore no responsibility.
The 32-member NATO alliance has faced turbulence during Trump’s second term as president. His statements about taking Greenland and his disparaging remarks about troops from allied nations have sparked fresh waves of criticism and concern among European leaders about the durability of transatlantic security commitments.