The European Union is preparing talks on creating a “drone wall” along its eastern border after Russian drone attacks reached Poland earlier this month, EU Commissioner for Defense and Space Andrius Kubilius said.
Kubilius told Reuters on Sept. 18 that he planned to meet with defense ministers from eastern European countries and a Ukrainian representative to discuss the idea. He said some EU members had already been exploring such a project before Russian drones crossed into Poland on Sept. 10.
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“We want really to move ahead with very, very intensive and effective preparations to start to fill this gap, which is really very dangerous for us...as quickly as we can do it,” Kubilius said in a telephone interview.
The commissioner said the “drone wall” would likely combine sensors, air defense weapons, and jamming systems to detect and neutralize incoming drones. Costs and timelines are not yet clear, but analysts suggest it could be built within a year.
Kubilius, who visited Kyiv recently, said Ukraine is ready to share its battlefield experience. “They’re keen to share their experience and know-how,” he said.
The plan comes as Ukraine and Poland step up cooperation in drone warfare. On Sept. 18, the countries’ defense ministers, Denys Shmyhal and Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, signed a memorandum to form a joint working group focused on drones and training programs.
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They also signed a joint declaration to expand defense cooperation and urged NATO allies to send experts to the Joint Analysis, Training and Education Center.
The decision comes at a time of heightened tensions after 19 Russian drones violated Polish airspace on Sept. 10, temporarily shutting down at least four airports including Rzeszów, Lublin, Warsaw, and Modlin.
NATO aircraft sent to intercept the drones included Polish F-16s, Dutch F-35s, Italian AWACS reconnaissance planes and refueling aircraft.
Elsewhere along the alliance’s eastern frontier, Latvia, Lithuania and Romania have all reported Russian drone incursions.
In response, NATO countries elected to move troops and fighter jets eastwards as part of its Eastern Sentry mission to bolster the military alliance’s eastern flank after the incursion.
Denmark will contribute two F-16 fighter jets to boost Poland’s air defense as well as a warship, while France will send three Rafale fighter jets and Germany has promised four Eurofighters, according to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
The UK announced on Monday, Sept. 15 that it would deploy Royal Air Force (RAF) Typhoon jets to join the Eastern Sentry, supported by a RAF Voyager air-to-air refueling aircraft from RAF Brize Norton.
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