NATO to build “drone wall” on eastern flank, German lawmaker confirms

NATO is actively pursuing the development and deployment of a “drone wall” along its eastern frontier, a strategic initiative designed to bolster the alliance’s defence capabilities against increasingly sophisticated unmanned aerial threats.

This was confirmed by Norbert Röttgen, a foreign policy expert and member of the German CDU/CSU parliamentary faction, Caliber.Az reports, citing German media.

Röttgen emphasized the critical necessity of establishing comprehensive drone defence systems spanning the entirety of NATO’s eastern border. “We need protection from drones on NATO’s eastern flank, across the entire eastern border of NATO,” he stated unequivocally.

“And yes — this wall will be built,” he added, underscoring the alliance’s commitment to this emerging defence architecture.

Highlighting the evolving nature of modern warfare, Röttgen observed that the ongoing conflict in Ukraine “has virtually turned into a pure drone war,” a transformation that is reshaping tactical doctrines and operational priorities. The lawmaker lamented that earlier recognition of this shift could have expedited the procurement of advanced drone technologies, but expressed confidence that such acquisitions are now underway.

“The army of the future is not the one we had before,” Röttgen asserted. He elaborated on the multifaceted role drones play in contemporary military strategy, encompassing reconnaissance, defence, decoy operations, and precision strikes. “The capabilities of drones — reconnaissance drones, defensive drones, trap drones, strike drones — in all these areas we need them. This will be an integral part of defence capability,” he concluded.

By Vafa Guliyeva