Europe Endorses UAV Development for Border Surveillance

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A security strategy paper by EU Foreign Affairs Chief Catherine Ashton says EU countries should use military-grade unmanned air systems (UAS) for border surveillance. This decision will reopen the competition of UAS manufacturers, including from Israel, for this big market.

Her plan, which outlines priorities in the lead up to an EU summit on defence in December, notes that there is “an urgent need to prepare a programme for the next generation” of so-called Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAS.

iHLS – Israel Homeland Security

Germany, France, Italy and the UK already have the systems in place, however they only use them in military-led operations.

Israeli sources told I-HLS that the European countries will need a variety of UAS for the mission.