EU commissioner warns Russia could field up to 9 million drones in 2026

Andrius Kubilius, European commissioner for defense and space, said Moscow could produce 7 million to 9 million drones in 2026 and train up to 1.6 million operators by 2030, warning that Europe can no longer treat drones as a secondary issue.

"Soutenir l'Ukraine, protéger notre flanc est et reconstruire notre souveraineté industrielle relève désormais d'une même exigence stratégique," Kubilius said, according to a report published Monday. He urged Europe to treat drone production as a strategic priority for immediate aid to Ukraine, long-term defense of the EU's eastern flank, and industrial sovereignty.

France has updated its military programming law to place more emphasis on drones, and new industrial actors in France are being mobilized for drone production. Coproduction cooperation with Ukraine is beginning to materialize. However, Kubilius said current planned resources for drones remain below needs, and warned that without clear coordination among states and European articulation, the buildup risks remaining fragmented and insufficient.

Kubilius's remarks come as Russia continues nightly drone strikes on Ukrainian cities, energy infrastructure and defense forces. He argued that helping Ukraine counter and destroy Russian drone waves is a way to contain a threat that is moving closer to Europe's borders. Building a European drone industry with Ukraine, he said, would converge three objectives: immediate military aid to Kyiv, durable protection of Europe's eastern border, and the recovery of European defense and industrial sovereignty.

The French National Assembly on May 19 approved an additional €36 billion for the 2024-2030 military programming law, part of a broader shift in defense planning that includes greater emphasis on drone capabilities.