Mysterious drones have been spotted at airports across Europe
5 days ago
- #drone-warfare
- #NATO-defense
- #hybrid-warfare
- Russian drones are increasingly used in warfare, not just in Ukraine but also in Western Europe, testing NATO's resilience.
- A 'drone wall' is proposed to protect Europe from drone incursions, with initial deployment planned by 2027.
- Drones vary from small, short-range models in Ukraine to larger, long-range ones capable of flying over 1,000km.
- Mysterious, unarmed drones have been spotted near critical infrastructure in Europe, suspected to be part of Russian hybrid warfare.
- Counter-drone measures include detection systems (radar, acoustic, optical) and destruction methods (jamming, missiles, lasers).
- The drone wall faces challenges: high costs, technological limitations, and the vast area needing protection.
- Some argue for targeting drone launch sites instead of just intercepting drones, though this risks escalation.
- Funding for the drone wall may come from EU budgets, national funds, and frozen Russian assets.
- The rapid evolution of drone technology makes countermeasures quickly outdated, creating an arms race.
- NATO prioritizes air defense, but balancing defense needs with other military expenditures remains controversial.