Two pilot European unmanned technology centres planned for 2027
Two pilot European unmanned technology centres are planned for 2027 as part of the DECODER defence-industrial initiative. The Latvian centre at the Selonia military range will focus on ground and aerial drones and counter-drone systems, while the Dutch centre in Scheveningen will focus on maritime capabilities and critical underwater infrastructure. Ukraine is participating in DECODER.
Key points
- Two pilot European unmanned technology centres are planned for 2027.
- The Latvian centre will be located at the Selonia military range.
- The Latvian centre will focus on ground and aerial drones and counter-drone technologies.
- The second centre will be located in Scheveningen, the Netherlands.
- The Dutch centre will focus on maritime capabilities, seabed security, port protection and critical underwater infrastructure.
- DECODER is one of five European defence projects of common interest under the European Defence Industry Programme.
- Ukraine is participating in the DECODER initiative.
Why it matters
The centres are intended to accelerate the development, testing and adoption of drone and counter-drone technologies. They will also provide settings for evaluating new military concepts and ground, maritime and aerial drone technologies under combat-like conditions, while linking Ukraine's combat experience with European defence-industrial cooperation.
What happened
Europe plans to establish its first two pilot unmanned technology centres in 2027 under the DECODER initiative. The Latvian centre will operate at the Selonia military range, which also hosts an innovative NATO range for drones and counter-drone technologies, and will focus on ground and aerial drones as well as counter-drone systems. The second centre will be based in Scheveningen in the Netherlands and focus on maritime capabilities, seabed security, port protection and critical underwater infrastructure. Together, the centres are designed to support the development, testing and evaluation of new military concepts and technologies under combat-like conditions. DECODER is one of five European defence projects of common interest launched under the European Defence Industry Programme, with Ukraine participating in the initiative.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian coverage highlights Ukraine's participation in DECODER and the potential value of its combat experience for accelerating European drone innovation and strengthening European drone systems. It also draws attention to the EU–Ukraine Drone Deal, agreed in July as a unified framework for implementing Ukraine's drone agreements with several EU capitals, and to cooperation between Ukrainian and German companies on anti-ballistic systems under an agreement signed in Brussels on 18 June.
How international sources describe it
The international framing focuses on the planned creation of Europe's first pilot unmanned technology centres and their development, testing and evaluation functions. It distinguishes the Latvian centre's emphasis on ground and aerial drones and counter-drone systems from the Dutch centre's focus on maritime capabilities and the protection of critical underwater infrastructure.
Background
DECODER is one of five European defence projects of common interest launched under the European Defence Industry Programme. The Latvian centre will be located at the Selonia military range, which also hosts an innovative NATO range for drones and counter-drone technologies. The new centres are intended to support testing and evaluation under combat-like conditions.