Germany to spend €10 billion on military drones to boost NATO air defence

Germany plans to invest €10 billion in military drones over the coming years to strengthen Europe’s and NATO’s air defence, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has said.

The minister noted that the program will form part of a broader continental rearmament in response to the growing threat from Russia, Caliber.Az reports via Bloomberg. 

Pistorius welcomed NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte’s plan for drone defence, emphasising that recent incursions into the airspace of countries like Poland and Estonia highlighted the urgent need to reinforce defence capabilities.

“Germany will, of course, make a visible contribution here as well,” Pistorius told journalists in Brussels during NATO defence ministers’ talks.

He added that Germany’s purchases will cover drones of “all types and altitudes,” including both defensive and strike models.

“Germany is ready to take the lead on a joint European Union air-defence shield, one of a number of flagship defence projects due to be presented by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen — a former German defence minister,” Pistorius emphasised.

The urgency of this investment is highlighted by recent incursions into European airspace, notably in Poland and Estonia, prompting NATO to launch Operation Eastern Sentry.

This operation, initiated in September 2025, focuses on countering drone threats and reinforcing NATO's eastern flank.

By Jeyhun Aghazada