NATO Faces Drone Threat, Seeks Cost-Effective Interception Technologies

NATO is facing a significant challenge in countering a surge of Russian drone incursions, which experts say has exposed the alliance's lack of preparedness for this form of modern warfare. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte highlighted the unsustainable cost imbalance in shooting down relatively cheap Russian drones with expensive Western missiles, emphasizing the need for more affordable interceptor technologies. Drawing lessons from Ukraine's experience, where mass drone attacks have strained traditional air defense systems, NATO plans to rapidly develop and deploy new counter-drone technologies. Despite current equipment shortages, NATO aims to complement traditional air defense with these new technologies to better handle future incursions. The alliance is also grappling with how to respond to Russian violations of NATO airspace, with European governments warning Moscow of readiness to respond forcefully to further breaches. Overall, NATO is accelerating efforts to adapt to drone warfare as Russia intensifies its use of drones in military operations.