As the Military Programming Law (LPM), currently under review, returns to the National Assembly on Monday, the group " For Ukraine, for their freedom and ours!" is publishing its plea, "Emergency Drones: France–Europe–Ukraine." This plea is based on an analysis enriched by contributions from numerous military, industrial, and geopolitical experts.

Our plea is a stark warning: France's lag in drones and anti-drone capabilities is no longer merely a weakness; it has become a major strategic risk. To address this, we call upon the Government and Parliament to make the France-Europe-Ukraine drone sector a cornerstone of the updated Military Programming Law (LPM).

1. The context: drone warfare has changed the game and already threatens us

From massive strikes in Ukraine to drone attacks against bases and ships in the Middle East, drones and remotely operated munitions have become a central instrument in the conduct of contemporary warfare.

In March 2026, Russia launched over 6,400 drones at Ukraine in a single month. These attacks are part of a deliberate Kremlin strategy to weaken Ukrainian defenses. Ukraine is currently serving as a testing ground for a Russian drone strike doctrine that could be deployed against European countries in the future.

Russia has repeatedly tested our own defense capabilities. The most recent incident occurred on May 7, 2026, when two Ukrainian drones, jammed by Russian electronic warfare, crashed in Latvia, one of them at an oil facility. The failure of Latvian air defenses forced the Minister of Defense and the Prime Minister to resign.

1. The context: drone warfare has changed the game and already threatens us

From massive strikes in Ukraine to drone attacks against bases and ships in the Middle East, drones and remotely operated munitions have become a central instrument in the conduct of contemporary warfare.

In March 2026, Russia launched over 6,400 drones at Ukraine in a single month. These attacks are part of a deliberate Kremlin strategy to weaken Ukrainian defenses. Ukraine is currently serving as a testing ground for a Russian drone strike doctrine that could be deployed against European countries in the future.

Russia has repeatedly tested our own defense capabilities. The most recent incident occurred on May 7, 2026, when two Ukrainian drones, jammed by Russian electronic warfare, crashed in Latvia, one of them at an oil facility. The failure of Latvian air defenses forced the Minister of Defense and the Prime Minister to resign.

2. Ukraine now has one of the most advanced armies in drone warfare.

With a startup ecosystem unparalleled on the continent and now boasting massive production capacity, Ukraine has forged unique expertise in combat, already recognized and sought after by several foreign partners. However, Ukraine cannot win alone: it needs structured partnerships with its European allies to counter the war of attrition through sheer numbers, structure and sustain its defense industry, and build a joint drone sector capable of providing lasting protection for our shared security.

3. The observation: France is critically behind

Several European countries – including Germany, Finland, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, and the United Kingdom – have already established significant joint ventures with Ukrainian drone manufacturers. France, however, is currently limited to a few isolated agreements, without a comprehensive industry vision. Despite the budget increase planned in the updated Military Programming Law (LPM), France lacks both a sovereign drone industry and a structured cooperation framework with Ukraine, the only country with extensive experience in high-intensity warfare.

4. The proposal: three simple measures, which can be decided immediately

The challenge is to build a common industrial policy where each joint investment with Ukraine strengthens both its capacity to hold the front and regain the military initiative and our own security as well as the economic activity of our territories.

The full statement makes eight proposals for building a Europe-Ukraine drone industry; this press release highlights three of them, deemed priorities and immediately actionable:

• The creation of a €3 billion French drone fund by 2030, earmarked for Franco-Ukrainian joint ventures and coordinated joint purchases between Member States within the framework of existing European mechanisms, for the mass production of drones delivered quickly to Ukraine and the Eastern Front, rather than filling stocks destined to become obsolete.

• The launch of a structured technology transfer program between French, European and Ukrainian companies, involving large groups but also our network of SMEs and start-ups.

• The initiative of a coalition of willing states for the rapid deployment of drones and anti-drone systems on the eastern flank, in close coordination with NATO, in order to test, train, and harden our systems in real-world conditions rather than waiting for the threat to strike us

Anne Marleix, head of advocacy “Emergency drones. France–Europe–Ukraine”.

This appeal has received support from numerous prominent figures in the armed forces, the research community, think tanks, and industry. Among them:

– Guillaume Ancel, former officer, war chronicler;

– General (2S) Vincent Desportes, former director of the War College;

– Tara Varma, Director of Strategic Foresight at the German Marshall Fund;

– Nicolas Tenzer, Senior fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA);

– Xavier Tytelman, former military aviator, aeronautical and defense consultant.

Upon request, we can put you in touch with military personnel, experts and industry representatives in the drone sector for interviews.