Rising interest in drone defence sparks debate over Europe’s “drone wall”

As EU leaders convened this week, German defence company Rheinmetall highlighted a surge of interest in unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and counter-drone technologies.

“Drones are relatively easy targets because they often fly slowly and very low,” a Rheinmetall spokesperson told CNBC via email.

However, the company noted, the real challenges lie in detecting and distinguishing small drones — mini and micro models — and defending against coordinated swarm attacks. According to the spokesperson, an effective defence system must integrate multiple countermeasures, with cannon-based drone defence emerging as the most cost-effective solution.

“In terms of cost-benefit, efficiency, and reliability, cannon-based systems are the ideal means of defending against drones at close range,” the spokesperson added.

The EU’s focus on drone defence comes as Denmark’s defence ministry confirmed that several European countries had provided anti-drone equipment, personnel, and expertise this week to help bolster the nation’s defences. Ukraine, drawing on three years of drone warfare experience, also contributed its specialised knowledge.

The initiative to create a “drone wall” on Europe’s eastern flank has garnered attention beyond established defence manufacturers. Jens Holzapfel, business director at Swedish drone defence firm Nordic Air Defence (NAD), welcomed the EU plan, describing it as “bold and ambitious.”

“We certainly support the initiative,” Holzapfel told CNBC via video call. “Every investment in drone defence is urgently needed, and it is encouraging to see European leaders uniting around a common perception of the threat.”

Yet Holzapfel also voiced caution. He suggested that the term “drone wall” may oversimplify the concept, which in practice involves a complex network of radars, sensors, and countermeasures that must be interoperable and fully integrated.

He further warned that drones could be launched from within EU territory, whether by state or non-state actors, citing Ukraine’s “Spiderweb” drone attacks on strategic targets deep inside Russia earlier this year as an example.

“My concern is that the creation of the drone wall risks getting bogged down in European bureaucracy, with disagreements among member states over authority and contractor involvement,” Holzapfel said. “Establishing this system at the speed required will be challenging, and I worry it may not happen fast enough.”

By Tamilla Hasanova