EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warns production of drone interceptors cannot meet high demand from Ukraine and Gulf states, citing limited capabilities.

BRUSSELS: EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has warned that the bloc’s capacity to supply drone defence systems is constrained. She stated that production of interceptors is struggling to keep pace with soaring demand from the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.

Kallas made the remarks ahead of a video call between EU and Gulf State foreign ministers. She expressed concern over limited capabilities to help Gulf nations fend off Iranian drone strikes.

“Everybody has the need for air defence… So there is really a problem with production,” Kallas told journalists. She emphasised that Europe needs to “speed up” its manufacturing output.

The EU is exploring ways to assist, but Kallas admitted she is “worried that the capabilities are limited.” She suggested Ukraine could contribute by sharing its hard-won expertise in countering drones.

Ukraine has developed significant knowledge after more than four years of war with Russia. President Volodymyr Zelensky recently proposed a swap with US allies in the Middle East, offering air defence missiles in exchange for drone interceptors.

Russia has extensively used Iranian-designed Shahed drones in its invasion. Kyiv has created a range of cheap and effective interceptors, which are aerial craft designed to destroy incoming attack drones mid-air.

Despite this innovation, Ukraine faces its own shortage of expensive PAC-3 air defence missiles. These are critical for defending cities and infrastructure against Russian missile attacks.

In a related development, EU-member Italy announced it would send air defence assistance to Gulf countries. These nations have been targeted by Iranian strikes in retaliation for US-Israeli attacks.

 The Sun Malaysia