The European Union has announced plans to establish a comprehensive defense system known as the "European Drone Defense Initiative," aimed at protecting the continent from potential drone threats, particularly from Russia. This initiative is part of the EU's broader Defense Readiness Roadmap 2030, which seeks to enhance the bloc's ability to respond to various crises, including high-intensity conflicts.

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas emphasized the need for stronger defenses, stating, "Danger will not disappear even when the war in Ukraine ends. It is clear we need to toughen our defenses against Russia." The initiative was prompted by a rise in suspected Russian drone incursions into European airspace, leading NATO to strengthen its defenses.

Initially focused on the eastern flank of Europe, where countries border Russia and Belarus, the drone defense plan has expanded to cover the entire continent by the end of 2027. The concept of a "drone wall" was proposed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen after NATO intercepted Russian drones that entered Polish airspace last month. The need for improved protection was further underscored by drone incidents over airports in Denmark and Germany.

In a span of 27 days from September 9 to October 6, at least 39 drone-related incidents were reported across Europe, from Norway to Belgium and the Netherlands. Von der Leyen remarked, "Something new and dangerous is happening in our skies. This is not random harassment. The drone wall is our response to the realities of modern warfare."

The drone wall will not consist of actual drones but will be a sophisticated network of detection and interception systems that build on the existing anti-drone capabilities of EU member states. The initiative aims to create a multi-layered, technologically advanced system for detecting, tracking, and neutralizing drone threats.

Daniel Hegedus, regional director for Central Europe at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, described the system as a "web" of defense mechanisms rather than a solid wall. He stated, "A drone wall cannot be a wall; it must be a web of short-range, point-defense systems deployed around potential targets."

The technology for the initiative is expected to include various sensors, such as cameras, acoustic systems, specialized radars, and radio-frequency detectors. Experts suggest that countermeasures could involve machine guns, cannons, rockets, missiles, interceptor drones, electronic jamming systems, and lasers. The use of artificial intelligence to identify and target incoming drones is also anticipated to increase.

Kallas noted that the threat of drones is a concern for all EU member states, not just those on the eastern border. She urged all countries to invest in counter-drone systems. The initiative is particularly urgent for the nine NATO countries along the eastern European flank: Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Finland.

While the European Drone Defense Initiative aims to be operational by the end of 2027, some experts express skepticism about the feasibility of providing comprehensive drone protection across the entire continent. Hegedus cautioned that the term "drone wall" may raise expectations that cannot be met, citing the high costs associated with defending against drone attacks. He pointed out that Russia's Geran Shahed-type drones are relatively inexpensive, costing around $50,000, while providing high-level protection for a single target could be significantly more expensive.

European Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius stated that the initiative would not require hundreds of billions in funding, but no specific cost estimates have been provided. The defense roadmap is set to be reviewed and approved by EU member states at an upcoming leaders' summit. While some countries support the drone wall, Germany and France have yet to fully endorse the plan. French President Emmanuel Macron has indicated that the threat posed by drones is more complex than the concept of a drone wall suggests, and Germany's defense minister noted that the initiative could take several years to implement.