The European Union (EU) has officially declared its intention to establish a ‘drone wall’ along its eastern border, aimed at deterring and mitigating the ongoing intrusions into its airspace by Russia. This initiative is designed to both identify and neutralize unauthorized drone activity. The inaugural meeting for this project took place on Friday, involving representatives from Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Finland. Ukraine was also present, recognized for its expertise in drone technology and its capacity to manufacture approximately 4 million drones annually. NATO participated in the meeting as an observer. The topic is set for further discussion at an informal meeting of EU leaders scheduled for next week in Copenhagen.
Recent weeks have seen a rise in drone sightings across Poland, Romania, Estonia, and Denmark. Poland reported incursions from 19 Russian drones, while a drone-related incident at Copenhagen Airport caused a four-hour flight disruption. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen stated that while the involvement of Russia could not be fully ruled out, sufficient evidence was still pending. The Danish Defence Minister characterized these occurrences as a hybrid attack.
Sweden has offered to supply Denmark with a military anti-drone system prior to the upcoming summit in Copenhagen. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has stated that this system is capable of intercepting and destroying drones. The decision of Denmark regarding this offer remains undisclosed.
EU Commissioner Andrius Kubilius mentioned that the implementation of the drone wall would involve integrating various technologies, including radar systems, acoustic sensors, signal jammers, interceptors, and conventional artillery. Poland had to allocate billions of dollars to procure missiles to counter inexpensive drones, and Denmark lacks a ground-based air defense system. The initiative poses challenges regarding coordination with NATO and alignment with defense policies. The EU has been impelled to take steps to enhance its security in response to the actions of Russia.