Colombia to launch $1.6 billion national anti-drone shield after US strike in Venezuela

Colombia announced plans on January 10 to launch a COP 6.2 trillion ($1.6 billion) National Anti-Drone Shield, citing heightened regional security concerns following a recent US military strike on Venezuelan air-defence assets.

In an official statement, Colombia’s Ministry of Defence said the programme will establish a nationwide detection and interdiction architecture to counter unmanned aerial threats across the country, including border regions, critical infrastructure, and major population centres, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media. 

The ministry said the decision to accelerate the initiative was influenced by the US operation in Venezuela earlier this month, which prompted Bogotá to reassess its exposure to long-range and cross-border drone incursions.

According to the statement, the National Anti-Drone Shield will be built as an integrated, multi-layered system combining early-warning sensors, electronic warfare capabilities, physical interceptors, and command-and-control nodes. Colombia described the project as its largest investment to date in airspace security.

“This plan seeks nationwide integration between the Armed Forces, civil aviation authorities, and emergency systems to protect national territory from hostile unmanned systems,” the Ministry of Defence said.

The programme’s objective is to strengthen Colombia’s ability to detect, identify, track, and neutralize advanced aerial threats.

The first step will begin next week, with Colombia hosting a classified briefing on January 16 for international companies and government delegations to outline operational requirements. Proposals will be evaluated based on technical performance, interoperability, cost, delivery timelines, and legal compliance.

The ministry said the COP 6.2 trillion allocation will cover procurement, system integration, training, life-cycle support, and initial operational deployment. Funding has been secured as part of Colombia’s 2026 national budget planning cycle.

Officials said the shield will include both fixed and mobile components to support border patrol units, air-defence forces, police, and infrastructure-protection missions. Deployment will take place in phases once vendors are selected and integration schedules are finalized.

While Colombia has previously fielded counter-drone systems for localised protection, authorities said the scale of the new plan is unprecedented. The government pointed to the rapid expansion of advanced unmanned systems in regional conflicts, noting that the US strike in Venezuela highlighted gaps in South America’s ability to track or counter high-speed drones and precision weapons moving through contested airspace.

A central element of the programme will be a secure data-sharing network linking military and civilian authorities to provide real-time situational awareness during high-risk incidents. Colombia also plans to establish a specialised command element responsible for technical oversight, training standards, and operational procedures for anti-drone missions, coordinating closely with the Air Force and National Police.

The government said initial priority will be given to protecting airports, energy infrastructure, and military facilities under the new shield.

By Sabina Mammadli