Key Developments
On 13 October 2026, the European Commission said it would add €130 million for drone and counter-drone capabilities at EU external borders, supporting 16 EU Member States and 1 Schengen Associated Country. The move aligned with Bundeswehr training the same day that used drones in critical-infrastructure defence.
Key Statistics
- €130 million in additional European Commission funding for border drone and counter-drone measures
- €250 million in initial European Commission border-security funding preceded the new allocation
- 16 EU Member States were listed for support under the additional funding
- 1 Schengen Associated Country was listed for support under the additional funding
- More than 1,200 soldiers took part in Bundeswehr Exercise Komet 26
- 520 buildings formed part of the Bundeswehr urban defence scenario
Main Body
On 13 October 2026, the European Commission announced an additional €130 million for drone and counter-drone measures at the EU's external borders. The European Commission said the funding would support 16 EU Member States and 1 Schengen Associated Country as part of wider work to strengthen border management.
The European Commission said the allocation followed €250 million in earlier funding and was intended to improve aerial surveillance and responses to security threats. The practical administrative effect was to give border authorities dedicated EU budget support for equipment and capabilities linked to detecting, monitoring and countering unmanned systems.
The border package fit a broader government focus on unmanned capabilities. On 2 October 2026, the Bundeswehr said Defence Minister Boris Pistorius had announced that the German Army would establish a drone regiment in 2027 after tests at the Bergen training area. On 13 October 2026, the Bundeswehr reported that Paratrooper Regiment 26 was training at Letzlinger Heide with more than 1,200 soldiers, Austrian combat specialists and drones used for reconnaissance and combat in critical-infrastructure defence scenarios.
The development mattered for European security because the European Commission framed the funding as a border-protection measure, while the Bundeswehr described unmanned systems as part of future land force development. Together with the Netherlands Ministry of Defence statement on 30 September 2026 that European armed forces and industry needed faster cooperation, the announcements pointed to a practical priority: turning drone-related policy, procurement and training into deployable security capacity.
