Russian drones have been systematically infiltrating NATO territory across Europe since 2024, posing a "new level of danger" according to Germany's interior minister. These incursions are part of a hybrid warfare campaign by the Kremlin designed to unnerve governments, sow panic, identify air defense vulnerabilities, and test NATO's response times and coordination. Over two years, hundreds of drones have operated in the airspace of a dozen NATO nations and Ireland, leading to repeated closures of major commercial aviation hubs and disruptions to military activities.
Key targets have included military bases housing U.S. nuclear weapons and other sensitive sites, such as Germany’s Ramstein Air Base and Volkel Air Base in the Netherlands, the latter hosting B61-12 gravity bombs. The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) reported that these operations, particularly around Volkel, demonstrated a "highly motivated and deliberate effort to survey NATO’s nuclear-deterrence infrastructure." Despite these clear threats, NATO's response has been criticized as too slow, costly, and cautious, with a lack of unified strategy among member states.
In September 2025, NATO fighters shot down four out of approximately 20 Russian drones entering Polish airspace, marking the first time NATO planes fired on potential threats in allied airspace. More recently, in June 2026, a French Rafale jet on a NATO mission shot down a drone that entered Latvian airspace from Russia, a decision made at the NATO command level. The cost-effectiveness of these defensive measures is a significant concern, as an F-16 firing a $400,000 AIM-9X Sidewinder missile against a $35,000 Shahed drone highlights a substantial cost imbalance. However, analysts argue that the potential human and economic toll of allowing drones to cause damage outweighs the cost of interception.
In response to these escalating threats, European nations are accelerating investments in counter-drone technologies. Poland has acquired U.S.-designed Merops systems, which launch $15,000 Surveyor interceptor drones. Romania is investing 5.7 billion euros (approximately $6.6 billion) in Skyranger and Skynex systems, along with Israeli Spyder missile launchers. The EU is facilitating these acquisitions with 150 billion euros (approximately $175 billion) in SAFE loans, and at a NATO summit in Ankara, allies pledged to invest $40 billion in counter-drone capabilities over the next five years. This increased investment reflects a growing understanding that the political cost of allowing drones to slip through may now outweigh the financial cost of shooting them down.
