Moldovan defence chief: Detecting drones not enough without means to counter them

Moldova plans to deploy a second radar for the protection of its airspace in the first half of 2026, Defence Minister Anatolie Nosatîi has announced, highlighting that detecting drones is not enough without the means to counter them.

“When it comes to defence, it is not sufficient to detect threats — we must also have the capacity to respond,” Caliber.Az quotes Nosatîi as saying.

Moldova acquired its first radar from France in 2023 at a cost of €14 million. The Ministry of Defence has begun training personnel to operate it. Nosatîi stressed that while the new radar will complement the existing one, even two radars are not sufficient to cover all potential threats.

“Each radar has its purpose, but together they enhance our ability to monitor airspace and improve overall defence capabilities,” he explained. The upcoming system will be purchased using European Union funds under the EU’s Peace Initiative.

Currently, Moldova still relies on more than 20 Soviet-era radars, which operate at minimal capacity and were not designed to detect low-flying drones. “They can spot aircraft over Crimea but cannot detect drones at 100 metres. Spare parts are no longer available, and technical capabilities degrade over time. Even repair attempts by Romanian colleagues proved impractical,” Nosatîi said.

The minister added that the radar previously acquired by the National Army successfully detected six drones that entered Moldovan airspace on November 25 2025, one of which landed on the roof of a house in the village of Cucureştii de Jos, Floreşti district. Authorities have urged the public not to touch any fallen objects and to report them immediately.

Nosatîi also suggested that Moldova could follow the example of neutral European countries, such as Austria and Switzerland, by joining collaborative initiatives like SkyShield to strengthen air defence through shared procurement.

In addition to radar acquisitions, Moldova has invested in portable air defence systems, with personnel trained to operate a variety of systems with differing ranges, speeds, and capabilities. “We will continue purchases to ensure sufficient coverage to protect citizens and critical infrastructure,” Nosatîi said.

By Aghakazim Guliyev