On Monday, defense ministers from 25 European Union (EU) countries signed a military pact to create a joint electronic warfare capability project, among other initiatives. The agreement, which was signed by all EU member countries except Denmark, Malta, and the United Kingdom, includes projects spanning a wide breadth of military concerns, including the electronic warfare project, a project to create next-generation drones, and a joint EU intelligence school. The Czech Republic has been tasked with leading an electronic warfare capability project, with the end goal of establishing a joint European electronic warfare force. Eventually, the group will help support EU battle groups in the field. Germany will take the lead on developing next-generation drones. The EU expects to have the new drones, known as medium-altitude long-endurance remotely piloted air systems, by 2025. The drones will be used to conduct both land and sea monitoring. Italy, on the other hand, will develop a method to counter the thread of mini- and micro-unmanned drones. The technology will be used both for homeland security and to support troops on the battlefield.
