The UK will take an active part in building a “drone wall” designed to protect NATO’s eastern flank from potential Russian aggression.
UK Defense Secretary John Healey emphasized that the country, along with its allies, is ready to use NATO to “demonstrate to Putin that his aggression and invasions, whether reckless or deliberate, will be stopped.”
The main element of the new defense system will be technologies developed under the joint British-Ukrainian program Project Octopus, which focuses on the production of interceptor drones. The system could also become an element of missile defense in the United Kingdom itself, Healy added.
In turn, German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt warned of a growing threat from drones and announced the creation of a new Center for Drone Defense. In addition, Germany is working to develop a joint research project with Israel on drone defense. Dobrindt also plans to expand the Bundeswehr’s powers to detect, intercept, and shoot down drones.
In turn, Finland and Sweden have created a strike brigade consisting of approximately 5,000 soldiers. It is planned to be deployed on the border with Russia in Finnish Lapland. The brigade will also include soldiers from Norway and Denmark, making it predominantly Scandinavian.
Weapons for the new brigade, including Swedish Archer self-propelled howitzers, have already been deployed in Finnish Lapland. In the event of an armed conflict, the strike brigade will be covered from the air by British Eurofighter and F-35 fighters and Apache helicopters. The plan was approved by the Commander of NATO’s European Forces, General Alexus Hrynkiewicz.
NATO has also decided to strengthen its mission in the Baltic Sea by sending an air defense frigate and other assets in response to the drone flight over Denmark.
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