Germany backs ambitious “drone wall” but flags long-term timeline

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has voiced his support for the ambitious “drone wall” initiative aimed at bolstering drone defence along Europe’s eastern flank, while cautioning that the project remains a distant priority given current strategic imperatives.

Speaking at an international security forum in Warsaw, Pistorius underscored the conceptual value of the multilayered drone defence system proposed by Germany in collaboration with Poland, Finland, and the Baltic states. The initiative envisions a sophisticated array of monitoring technologies and automated counter-drone systems deployed along the extensive border with Russia, including Ukrainian territory, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Pistorius remarked during the panel discussion that he highly appreciated the idea and the concept of a “drone wall” along the eastern flank. However, he was quick to temper expectations regarding the timeline for implementation, explaining that the concept was unlikely to be realized within the next three to four years, or perhaps even longer. He added that they must prioritize and act accordingly, and that, in his view, the current priorities lay elsewhere.

The minister further emphasized the pressing need for Europe to accelerate its technological development to maintain an effective defence posture.

He said that the project was fundamentally about protection against drones rather than a literal “drone wall.” He added that they must advance more rapidly, as the systems currently being acquired or developed risked becoming obsolete within a few years due to rapid technological evolution. Therefore, he emphasized that a clear and coherent process was essential across all these domains.

The “drone wall” represents a forward-looking security project designed to integrate cutting-edge detection and interception capabilities, aimed at countering the growing threat posed by unmanned aerial systems in the region.

By Vafa Guliyeva