A total of 20 NATO countries will take part in the bloc’s Drone Edge initiative, under which they will invest $40 billion over the next five years in the production of drones and anti-drone systems, as well as in a fivefold increase in capacity for training their operators. This was announced by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the Defence Industry Forum on the sidelines of the NATO summit.

“Today we are launching the Drone Edge initiative, which will include $40 billion in investments over the next five years in the production of drones and counter-drone systems. NATO will also increase drone operator training fivefold in 2027,” Rutte promised.

He noted that 20 NATO countries are participating in the initiative, having already established 16 training centers for UAV operators, and will soon launch a commercial platform for procuring anti-drone systems, on which, allegedly, “contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars have already been placed.”