Lagging Air Defenses Raise concerns as Drone Warfare Escalates
BRUSSELS – Western air โdefense systems are struggling to keep โคpace with the rapidly evolving threat โof drone โwarfare, as โdemonstrated by starkly contrasting success rates inโ Ukraine and recentโ NATO exercises. While Ukraine intercepts approximately โค700 out of 800 drones โlaunched nightly by Russia, a recent NATOโฃ training exercise yielded a mere four drone takedowns out of nineteen attempted attacks, raising questions about Europe’s preparedness for potential aerial โฃincursions.
the disparity highlights a critical vulnerability stemming from decades of underinvestment โขandโค a shift in militaryโค priorities following the cold War. โฃ Historically focused on conventional warfare, European defense industries scaled back production of air defense systems, โanticipating no needโ for robust capabilities against asymmetric threats like swarms โof low-flying drones. This leavesโค nations nowโ scrambling to rebuild capacity while facing a resurgent geopolitical landscape and โขthe immediate reality of drone warfare in Eastern Europe. the situation impacts not only militaryโข securityโฃ but also critical infrastructure and civilian populations perhaps vulnerable to drone attacks. Addressing this shortfall requires substantialโข investment, industrial revitalization, and a renewed focus on countering this evolving threat.
Following โthe end of the Cold War, the Netherlands,โฃ like many European nations, substantially downsized it’s military andโฃ reoriented its focus. “We โhad a military geared towards missions in places like Afghanistan, where the taliban didn’t possess anโ air force, so there โwas no requirement for air defense,” explains security analyst Dick Bolder. This strategic shift led toโ a decline โคin โEuropean defense industrial capacity,โ a problem now hindering efforts to rapidly bolster air defense capabilities.
Rebuilding these industries and โacquiring necessary systemsโฃ will take years, Bolder emphasizes. “European defense industries โขhave become very small. That needs โto be โคrebuilt,and itโ requires investment.” While progress is โคbeing made, with European defense industries showing renewed momentum, a swift solution remains distant.”It’s not going to be solved today or tomorrow,” he stated.
The urgency of the situation is underscored by Russia’sโ ongoing use of drones in Ukraine, launching nightly attacks involving hundreds of aerial โvehicles. The โขlow NATO success rate in intercepting drones during recent exercises raises concerns โabout โthe alliance’s ability to defend against similar attacks.
However, Bolder suggests a key deterrent lies in demonstrating resolve to Russian President Vladimir Putin. “It’s vital โฃthat โขwe, as NATO and European countries, showโ that we are determined and will not tolerate interference in our security. That could deter Putin,” heโ said. He also notes that as โฃlong as Russia remainsโค focusedโฃ on the โwar in Ukraine, it is less likely to initiate large-scale attacks against NATO members.