LONDON

A string of mysterious drone incursions along Europe’s eastern border has exposed vulnerabilities in Europe’s defenses, prompting Brussels to unveil a flagship plan to defend its skies against potential Russian threats.

The European Drone Defense Initiative, unveiled Thursday as part of the bloc’s new five-year defense roadmap, will create a continent-wide network of sensors, jamming systems and anti-drone weapons designed to detect and neutralize hostile drones before they enter EU airspace.

Dubbed the “Drone Wall” when first discussed, the system is not a physical barrier but rather an invisible shield aimed at strengthening the EU’s air defenses in cooperation with NATO.

The plan follows reports of at least 20 unidentified drones entering Polish airspace last month, with similar occurrences reported in Romania, Estonia, and Finland — all EU and NATO members — prompting discussions about aerial defense readiness across Europe.

“There is no time to waste,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned in her State of the Union address last month, calling for swift coordination among member states.

The initiative aims to be fully functional by the end of 2027.

From proposal to flagship plan

“We must heed the call of our Baltic friends and build a drone wall. This is not an body_abstract ambition. It is the bedrock of credible defense,” von der Leyen said. “A European capability developed together, deployed together and sustained together, that can respond in real time. One that leaves no ambiguity as to our intentions. Europe will defend every inch of its territory.”

But the idea of a drone wall first emerged last year in a joint proposal by the Baltic states, Poland and Finland, who sought a unified anti-drone defense in response to increasing activity along the bloc’s eastern borders.

The concept gained momentum after Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov presented a similar plan to EU officials in Brussels in April, reportedly shifting the initiative to a broader defense framework.

Then came a series of alleged airspace violations that rattled EU and NATO members. On Sept. 9, Poland said about 20 unidentified drones entered its airspace, prompting Warsaw to temporarily heighten air defense readiness.

Later in the month, Romania reported a suspected Russian drone incursion, while Estonia said three Russian fighter jets violated its airspace, a charge Moscow denies.

Similar drone sightings were recorded in Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Denmark, Norway and Germany, including near airports and military installations, though no direct link to Moscow has been confirmed.

European Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius, who is leading the initiative, has admitted that current EU capabilities and ability to coordinate against attacks are limited.

“A €10,000 ($11,687) drone shot down with a €1 million missile, that’s not sustainable,” Kubilius, former Lithuanian prime minister, said at a defense conference in Brussels.

He had also previously suggested that the original plan for countering drones covering Poland and the Baltics would cost about €1 billion ($1.16 billion).

How the system will work

Originally envisioned as a dense network of sensors, jamming systems and weapons along the eastern border, the concept has since expanded into a continent-wide web of anti-drone systems.

The EU Defense Roadmap aims to reinforce Europe's ability to deter and defend across land, air, sea, cyber and space while contributing directly to NATO capability targets.

It calls on member states to complete the formation of so-called “capability coalitions” in nine key areas – air and missile defense; strategic enablers; military mobility; artillery systems; cyber, AI, electronic warfare; missile and ammunition; drones and counter-drones; ground combat; and maritime security.

The bloc's work on this project is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2026, with a deadline for completion by the end of 2028.

Skepticism among EU members

The drone project, seen as a test of the EU’s ambition to play a greater role in defense, faces skepticism from some European leaders.

While the plan has strong backing from the Baltic states and Poland, some western and southern EU countries have expressed doubts about its cost, focus and feasibility.

Reportedly, the commission had been trying to win over the skeptics, who argued the original idea was too focused on the bloc’s eastern border when drones could pose a threat across the whole continent.

French President Emmanuel Macron raised concerns about the concept, saying there is more than 3,000-kilometer (1,864-mile) border, adding it is not "totally feasible."

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius also questioned the plan, saying the EU had more urgent priorities to tackle.

"Drone defense, of course, but not by a drone wall," he added.

Italy and Greece also suggested during a recent meeting of EU leaders that defense projects should benefit the whole bloc, not only its Eastern flank.

Russia's response

The Kremlin has denied involvement in the EU drone incursions, accusing European politicians of blaming Russia "for everything" without evidence.

Last month, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov criticized the proposed drone wall, saying "building walls is always a bad thing, as history shows."

"It's quite sad that Ukraine's militaristic, confrontational policy could now potentially materialize in the construction of new dividing walls," he added, accusing Europe of pursuing a "militaristic attitude" toward Russia.

Peskov later warned EU leaders not to link every unusual drone flight to Russia, urging them to "broaden their horizons."

His comments came after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Russian President Vladimir Putin “wants to test us,” suggesting the drone incursions may be part of Moscow’s strategy to probe Western defenses.