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The European Commission has welcomed a political agreement between the European Parliament and the Council on the creation of the Programme for Agile and Rapid Defence Innovation (AGILE), a new initiative designed to dramatically speed up the development and deployment of cutting-edge defence technologies across Europe.
Backed by a €115 million budget, AGILE was proposed by the Commission in March 2026 as part of the European Union's broader efforts to strengthen defence readiness and technological resilience. The programme is expected to become operational on January 1, 2027, providing a faster pathway for innovative defence solutions to reach European armed forces and partner nations.
AGILE is specifically designed to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), start-ups, and scale-ups developing disruptive defence technologies. The programme aims to shorten the traditional defence innovation cycle by enabling new products to move from research laboratories to real-world deployment in weeks or months instead of several years.
Unlike conventional defence procurement processes, AGILE will focus on mission-driven challenges identified in cooperation with EU Member States. This approach is intended to ensure that innovative technologies directly address urgent operational requirements while encouraging greater flexibility and faster decision-making throughout the development process.
The initiative will also be open to countries associated with the programme, including European Economic Area (EEA) and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) members, as well as Ukraine, allowing them to benefit from rapid access to advanced defence capabilities.
The European Commission said the swift agreement between EU lawmakers demonstrates a shared commitment to strengthening Europe's defence innovation ecosystem and improving its ability to respond quickly to evolving security challenges.
Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy Henna Virkkunen said Europe possesses the talent and technological expertise needed to become a global leader in defence innovation. She noted that AGILE will help innovators transform promising technologies into practical military capabilities while reinforcing Europe's technological sovereignty and supporting the continent's long-term security.
Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius described the agreement as an important milestone in improving Europe's defence preparedness. Referring to lessons learned from the war in Ukraine, he emphasized that success in modern warfare increasingly depends on the ability to innovate, manufacture, and adapt rapidly. According to Kubilius, the programme will strengthen Europe's industrial resilience while ensuring Member States and Ukraine receive the advanced defence capabilities they require.
AGILE builds upon existing European defence initiatives, including the European Defence Fund (EDF), the EU Defence Innovation Scheme (EUDIS), and the Hub for EU Defence Innovation (HEDI). While these programmes have strengthened cross-border defence research and collaboration, the European Commission believes additional mechanisms are necessary to accelerate the transition from innovation to operational deployment.
The programme also aligns with broader EU defence strategies such as the Readiness 2030 Roadmap, the White Paper for the Future of European Defence, and the EU Defence Industry Transformation Roadmap, all of which call for greater speed, agility, and innovation in responding to Europe's evolving security environment.
Once implemented, AGILE is expected to play a key role in fostering a more competitive European defence industry by helping innovative companies bring advanced technologies to market faster, strengthening military readiness, and enhancing Europe's ability to respond to future security challenges.
