Europe creates two test grounds to accelerate drones without skipping safeguards — 1

Selonia will address aerial and ground systems and their detection, identification and tracking. Scheveningen will focus on maritime and shallow-water environments. The EDA wants to connect operational requirements, innovation, evaluation and standardization. Both hubs will sit near NATO innovation ranges so methods and findings can be shared.

Europe creates two test grounds to accelerate drones without skipping safeguards — 2

The core issue is comparability. Manufacturers may advertise endurance, resilience or precision under different conditions. Common protocols could make results clearer and eventually support mutual recognition. The announcement does not promise automatic certification or procurement; the 2027 exercises are meant to generate evidence.

Europe creates two test grounds to accelerate drones without skipping safeguards — 3

Because the project covers defence and counter-drone work, NEO provides no operational instructions. Public-interest questions concern test safety, data protection, airspace coordination and the separation between military standards and civilian rules.

Conclusion

Europe is not unveiling a finished network. It is preparing two operational laboratories. Success will depend less on spectacular demonstrations than on shared methods and the ability to reject technologies that fail under realistic conditions.