‘Problem with production’: EU warns of air defence shortage as Iranian drone threat grows

EU warns of limited air defence supplies

The European Union is exploring ways to help Gulf nations counter Iranian drone attacks, but officials say the availability of air defence equipment remains a major constraint as the conflict in the Middle East intensifies.

Speaking during a video call between EU and Gulf foreign ministers on Thursday, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the bloc was assessing how it could assist countries facing drone strikes but cautioned that supplies of the necessary systems were limited.

“Everybody has the need for air defence… So there is really a problem with production,” Kallas said.

She stressed that Europe must ramp up manufacturing capacity to meet growing global demand for defensive systems. While urging European countries to “speed up” production, she added, “…we are looking into this, but I’m worried that the capabilities are limited.”

According to AFP, Kallas also suggested that Ukraine — which has gained extensive experience defending against drone attacks during more than four years of war with Russia — could share its expertise with Middle Eastern partners.

Earlier this week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposed an exchange with US allies in the Middle East, offering air defence missiles in return for drone interceptors.

AFP reported that Russia has relied heavily on Iranian-designed Shahed drones throughout its invasion of Ukraine. In response, Kyiv has developed a range of relatively inexpensive interceptor drones — aerial craft designed to destroy incoming attack drones mid-air — which Ukrainian officials say are among the most effective systems currently available.

At the same time, Ukraine is facing its own challenges. The country has been struggling with shortages of PAC-3 air defence missiles, costly munitions used to intercept Russian missile strikes targeting cities and key infrastructure.

European countries move to support allies

As tensions rise, several European countries are preparing to deploy military assets to help protect partners in the region.

According to Reuters, Italy’s Defence Minister Guido Crosetto told parliament that Italy, Spain, France and the Netherlands would send naval assets to safeguard Cyprus in the coming days.

Italy also announced on Thursday that it would provide air defence assistance to Gulf states that have come under Iranian strikes following US-Israeli attacks.

Britain has also stepped up its defensive presence. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the UK would send “helicopters with counter drone capabilities” and deploy a warship, HMS Dragon, to Cyprus as part of what he described as ongoing “defensive operations” in the region. The move came a day after a British Royal Air Force base on the island was targeted by an Iranian-made drone.

Starmer had initially declined to join the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran but later agreed to a request from Washington to allow the use of two British military bases for what he described as a “specific and limited defensive purpose”.

France has taken a similar approach. The French military said it would allow US aircraft to use some of its bases in the Middle East during the conflict, noting that such cooperation “contribute[s] to the protection of our partners in the Gulf”.

Spain, meanwhile, will deploy its most advanced frigate to help protect Cyprus after the drone strike on the British base drew the Mediterranean island deeper into the regional crisis, France24 reported, citing Spain’s defence ministry.

War enters sixth day

The latest developments come as the exchange of strikes between Iran and the US-Israel alliance entered its sixth day.

The conflict began on February 28 when US and Israeli forces launched strikes on Iranian targets after negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear programme collapsed, pushing the region into a new phase of military confrontation.

On Wednesday, an American submarine sank an Iranian warship, further escalating tensions. In response, Tehran threatened to target military and economic infrastructure across the region.

The intensity of the attacks has also disrupted domestic events in Iran. State television announced that a planned mourning ceremony for the country’s slain Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had been postponed.

Khamenei, 86, was killed in coordinated US-Israeli strikes earlier this week.