NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced the Drone Edge initiative, which will invest more than 40 billion USD over the next five years to improve the alliance's ability to detect and counter unmanned aerial vehicles. The alliance also launched the Front Door platform to give private defense companies easier access to NATO procurement contracts. It unveiled a separate 2.8 billion USD industrial cooperation program that will allow US defense firms to work with European partners to manufacture Abrams battle tanks, ATACMS missiles, and other military equipment in Europe.
NATO also announced several joint procurement projects, including plans to replace its aging fleet of Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft, which have been in service for about 50 years, with up to 10 GlobalEye airborne early warning and surveillance aircraft built by Swedish defense company Saab. Several members also agreed to expand joint purchases of strategic airlift aircraft, aerial refueling tankers and Triton surveillance drones.
Rutte said the initiatives were intended to turn higher defense spending commitments into operational military capabilities. NATO has been urging member states to increase their defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, and calling on European allies to take greater responsibility for the continent's security.
