Difficulties in coordination and strategy may hinder NATO from dealing with Russian attacks

The Situation with Russian Drones in NATO Airspace

In recent weeks, there has been noticeable activity by Russia in the airspace of NATO countries, causing serious concerns. This is reported in the news, with references to experts and statements by officials.

How NATO is Preparing for Drone Attacks

Incidents with Russian drones, including the recent demonstration of their use, cast doubt on the effectiveness of NATO’s current defense. The Polish perspective on these events suggests a possible deliberate test of the Alliance’s defense. The attack turned out to be unexpectedly inexpensive for Russia.

“Gerbera” drones, made from lightweight materials such as plywood and foam, cost only about $10,000 each. However, NATO used its expensive fighters, such as the F-16 and F-35, to attempt to intercept these drones.

Experts note that such a demonstration of force is attractive, but the financial costs of fuel and maintenance have serious budgetary implications for the Alliance. Researcher Robert Tollast from the RUSI think tank points out that the current cost asymmetry does not work in NATO’s favor.

Current Challenges and Possible Solutions

During last year’s terrible attack on Israel, NATO aircraft demonstrated their effectiveness. Nevertheless, it is estimated that such an opportunity could cost more than a billion dollars, making such actions economically unviable in the long term.

Part of the reasons lie in the fact that many Western countries were not prepared for the drone threat before the start of the war in Ukraine. Despite the existing consensus in the military technology sector, NATO countries are not keeping up with these threats.

The CEO of MARSS, Johannes Pinl, believes that the technologies are actually already available, and his suggestion of creating a “drone wall” — a multi-layered system for their detection and interception — is actively supported by the Baltic countries and some representatives of the European Union.

Delay in Technology Adaptation

Despite the availability of technical solutions, the pace of their implementation remains low. Pinl points out that NATO procurement systems still operate through channels and standards from the 1980s. An example is a modern AI interceptor, which is already actively used by the company, but there is still no responsibility for its adaptation within NATO.

Former head of the Foreign Intelligence Service Nikolai Malomuzh emphasized that in the event of a potential repeat of the violation of Poland’s airspace, not only should drone interception be involved, but also counterstrikes on their launch sites.

Violations of NATO Airspace by Russia

• On September 10, 2025, 19 drones were recorded in Poland, marking the worst incident during the conflict.
• On September 14, 2025, Romania also reported an intrusion by a Russian UAV and scrambled F-16s for interception.
• On September 19, 2025, Estonia reported three Russian military aircraft violating its airspace.

The situation continues to be in the spotlight, and possible solutions for strengthening security are discussed each time at the level of international politics.