Institute

versus external security’, and drone-based technology plays a significant role in securing the
European defence industry’s competitive niche.
In an effort to catch up with major competitors such as the US, China, 142 Israel, and
even the Middle East, the EU has made notable efforts to fund for civilian drone projects that
concomitantly benefit the military advancement of drones, with ‘at least €315 million of EU
research funding directed at drone-based projects; of this almost €120 million has gone
towards major security research projects.’ 143
The EU’s development of its own brand of drones is used as an in-depth study case
for the purpose of tracing and signifying the defence reform processes engendered by the EU
and the EDA in terms of dual-use technologies. As interoperability is the key word
concerning the advance of hybrid unmanned vehicles within the EU, priority is being given to
the development of low-cost multi-purpose technologies for civilian and for military
purposes.
The EU institutions have also been working on streamlining and eliminating
regulatory and technological barriers restricting the flight of drones in civilian airspace – the
European Commission published in June 2013 a roadmap, 144 ‘Roadmap for the integration of
civil RPAS into the European Aviation System’. This document paves the way for the safe
integration of RPAS into the European airspace starting from 2016.
The bellow Table charts the EU roadmap and drone policy evolution from 2005 to
December 2013. It reflects the European Commission’s dedicated and long-term strategy to
introduce drones into civilian airspace. The EU's drone policy has grown into a
comprehensive action plan spearheaded by the EDA and the European Commission to
eliminate the regulatory and technical barriers that at present limit the flight of drones in
civilian airspace.
142 China has developed a MALE class drone, named Pterodactyl, i.e. ‘The Chengdu Pterodactyl I is a Medium-
Altitude Long-Endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), developed by the Chengdu Aircraft
Industry Group in the People’s Republic of China.’ Accessed September 25, 2015.
http://www.uavglobal.com/pterodactyl/
143 Eurodrones, Inc. – Report (February 5, 2014). Accessed September 25, 2015.
https://www.tni.org/en/eurodrones
144 Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS). Accessed September 25, 2015.
http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sectors/aerospace/uas/