EU to develop ‘drone wall’ amid regional airspace violations
European Union defence ministers have agreed to develop a “drone wall” along their borders with Russia and Ukraine to detect, track and intercept violations of their airspace, according to the bloc’s defence chief.
Friday’s announcement comes after rogue drones entered Polish airspace on September 10, rattling eastern EU members.
Earlier this week, Denmark closed some of its airports after drones were flown near them, with the country’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warning that hybrid attacks were becoming more frequent.
Although Danish authorities have not concluded their investigations, Frederiksen stressed that Russia was currently the primary threat to European security.
The Kremlin has denied any involvement in the drone incidents in Poland and Denmark.
“The repeated violations of our airspace are unacceptable. The message is clear: Russia is testing the EU and NATO. And our response must be firm, united and immediate,” EU Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius said after chairing a virtual meeting of 10 countries on Europe’s eastern flank on Friday.
Kubilius, who called the meeting a “milestone”, said the drone shield could take a year to build, and that envoys from the countries would meet soon to develop “a detailed conceptual and technical roadmap” for the path ahead.
The top priority is an “effective detection system,” he said.
EU officials say that within the first year, a network of sensors will be developed to better spot drone incursions. The longer-term plan is to build the capabilities to intercept drones.
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