The EU proposes a drone protection mechanism called PROACTIF to strengthen the resilience of European infrastructure.
Finnish network equipment manufacturer Nokia announced a consortium of over 42 companies to develop a drone defense mechanism, aiming to strengthen the resilience of infrastructure operations across Europe. This initiative is clearly driven by the recent developments in the Ukraine-Russia conflict and the anticipated increase in automated drone attacks. Ensuring the continued operation of critical infrastructure within Europe is crucial for demonstrating high resilience against future threats. This drone defense mechanism, named PROACTIF, is funded by the EU's Chips Joint Undertaking program. It aims to enhance the resilience of European infrastructure and drive the development of the drone and robotics industry. It is projected to generate approximately €9000 million in revenue by 2035, spawning around 50 new applications and 15 new industry technology patents, thereby increasing Europe's importance and leadership in this market. The EU also anticipates that this mechanism will generate dozens of new collaborative projects, hundreds of new jobs, and attract over €4000 million in additional investment. Currently, Nokia will lead the development of this mechanism, which includes 42 technology companies from 13 countries and regions, such as NVIDIA, European defense company Safran, Italian high-tech multinational Leonardo SpA, and Swedish defense industry manufacturer Saab. It is expected to redefine how emergency situations and critical infrastructure are managed. Thomas Eder, head of Nokia's Embedded Wireless Solutions business, who is responsible for its development, stated that the mechanism's current goal is to ensure the safe operation of infrastructure for civilian needs, but it also has the potential for future defense applications, as power grids, power plants, railways, and ports will also be important strategic projects in times of war.