Russia’s drone threats prompt Europe’s ‘drone wall’ project
October 2, 2025
As Europe faces a more aggressive Russia waging a hybrid war on the continent, including drone incursions, Europeans are now talking about developing a ‘drone wall.’ The ‘drone wall’ is one of four defence parts of a roadmap being considered by Europe.
Europe announces ‘drone wall’ to protect Eastern Flank
On Tuesday, Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, stated that Europe needs to deliver a “strong and united response” to Russia’s drone incursions in the EU. She added, “That is why we will propose immediate actions to create the drone wall as part of the Eastern Flank Watch.”
As to be expected, the ‘drone wall’ is not a physical wall, but a layered network of detection and interception systems. CNN says it will build on individual European Union countries’ anti-drone capabilities.
It should also be noted that Russian drones don’t necessarily need to cross Europe’s eastern borders with Russia. For example, France24 reported on Wednesday that French forces had seized a Russian-linked tanker off the coast of France. It is believed the tanker was used to carry and launch the drones that flew over Danish airports last week.
At the 7th EPC Summit I said: if the Russians dare to launch drones against Poland or violate the airspace of Northern European countries, it means this can happen anywhere – in Western Europe, in the South. We need fast and effective response – a Drone Wall to protect Europe. pic.twitter.com/yuQ0iyVeR9
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) October 2, 2025
Leyen said Europe will work with Ukraine and within NATO. European countries are seeking to leverage Ukraine’s immense anti-drone capabilities that it has built up and pioneered in the war with Russia, which has now dragged on for over 3.5 years.
Part of larger European defence project
According to reporting by CNN, Europe is working to build a “Defence Readiness Roadmap” that will include other measures.
It also stated that the Europeans have not yet released much information about exactly what the initiative will entail. It is also unclear how long it will take to implement, although the German Defence Minister cautioned that its development could take at least three or four years.
Not all European leaders think it will take that long, with the Latvian Prime Minister saying it can be achieved in a much shorter time span than three years.
🇪🇺🦅 First steps taken in building ‘drone wall’ on EU’s eastern flank, — Euronews
— MAKS 25 🇺🇦👀 (@Maks_NAFO_FELLA) October 2, 2025
🇱🇻 Latvian Prime said her government had already started investing in sensors and sound systems for the project, following advice from Ukraine and removing some bureaucratic hurdles. pic.twitter.com/h3FKpbfJY7
The system may include electronic warfare, like jamming, to counter drones. Ukraine is the most experienced country in Europe regarding counter-drone warfare, and Europe is planning to leverage that experience.
Some of Ukraine’s most effective anti-drone systems range from drone interceptors to modified helicopters as Shahed-style drone hunters.
Bridging a ‘gaping hole’ in European air defence
The drone wall is intended to bridge a ‘gaping hole’ in NATO’s air defence. Currently, NATO’s air defence is tailored to intercepting high-end, fast-moving threats like fighter jets, ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and the like. But it is not optimized for countering waves of low-cost drones.
Bogged down and unable to defeat Ukraine, Russia is in no position to challenge NATO, even NATO without the US, directly. The Guardian reported US General Kellogg recently stated the Ukraine war is ‘unwinnable’ for Russia in the long term.
Instead, Russia is seeking to wage a low-level hybrid war with plausible deniability to test and strain European and NATO unity. It is focused on incursions, GPS spoofing, assassinations, sabotage, disinformation, election meddling, and the like.
That’s new. Europeans privately tell Russia they're ready to shoot down Russian jets, Bloomberg.
— Tymofiy Mylovanov (@Mylovanov) September 30, 2025
British, French and German envoys warned Kremlin in Moscow meeting NATO is ready to shoot down Russian planes for airspace violations, after 3 MiG-31 jets' incursion over Estonia. 1/ pic.twitter.com/QzboJVQed4
Tensions are continuing to spike between Europe and Russia after Russia’s escalating violations, including three armed MiG-31 interceptors flying in Estonian airspace for 12 minutes. There is currently a debate in Europe on whether to shoot down Russian jets the next time they ignore warnings and violate NATO airspace.
