The European Union is preparing to invest billions of euros in a massive “anti-drone wall” on its borders with Russia, using technology tested in combat in Ukraine. The move comes in response to recent incursions by Russian drones into NATO airspace that have exposed weaknesses in European defenses.
According to the Financial Times, the latest attacks have highlighted a critical problem: the Alliance is forced to use too expensive missiles and fighter jets to intercept cheap Shahed drones. Brussels recognizes that such an asymmetry could become a serious vulnerability that Moscow will continue to try to exploit. That is why the EU is calling on member states to pool funds for joint procurement of effective systems that have already proven their effectiveness in Ukraine.
Poland, the Baltic states and Finland have announced plans to strengthen their borders. At the same time, European officials emphasize that isolated steps will not bring results, a single and integrated system is needed. “It is impossible for one state to build its own, and another - completely different. Russia will immediately take advantage of our weaknesses,” said an EU representative.
Ukraine has pioneered cheap and effective methods of combating drones. Since conventional radars often fail to detect the small Shaheds, Ukrainian companies have created a network of acoustic sensors capable of detecting their sound. This data is received by mobile teams with heavy machine guns and anti-aircraft guns - much cheaper and faster than launching interceptor missiles.
Allies have already shown interest in this experience. President Volodymyr Zelensky has offered Poland training in countering Russian drones, and Lithuanian Deputy Defense Minister Karolis Aleksa confirmed that his country is adopting the Ukrainian approach with mobile groups. Similar systems are being launched in Latvia, and Romania is analyzing how to use Ukrainian developments within its own Safe program.
Thus, the EU's "anti-drone wall" will actually become an extension of the Ukrainian experience to all of Eastern Europe, and Kyiv itself will assume the role of not only an ally, but also a technological security donor for NATO.
