Tensions with Russia: Drone defense: The weak point at the NATO-East border

The enthusiastic of Russian military drones into the Polish NATO airspace alerts the alliance and discloses a weakness. Even if fighter planes were able to shoot part of the unmanned aircraft, the outer border has proven to be easy to overcome. Germany and other European NATO partners are aware of the defense gap, which can only be closed slowly. The most important questions and answers on the topic:

What about the ability to defend drone?

In the drone incident in the night of Wednesday, the general staff of the Polish army had the flight objects of Polish and Poland stationed in Poland deported. This is complex, but serves the security of the population. “Because it does not depend on the value of this rocket, but on the value of what this drone can destroy. We will use a 100-more expensive rocket if we can only save the life of a single Poland,” said chief of staff Wieslaw Kukula.

In Germany, the army inspector, Lieutenant General Alfons Mais, described the lack of skills to defend drones as the greatest weakness. He spoke for the Bundeswehr, but in other NATO armed forces the situation is hardly different. Now an army flight defense is to be set up again. The Bundeswehr is waiting for weapon systems such as the Skyranger, a mobile aircraft system for vehicles.

Ukraine gets this weapon in front of the Bundeswehr. The army also relies on the so -called aviation defense against all troops. Weapons are also used that are not intended for use against goals in the air. Mais cited the 30 millimeter cannon of the Puma rifle tank and changes to the system’s fire control calculator.

What can be done quickly?

On Wednesday, NATO military officers advised how and with which systems the air defense on the eastern flank could be reinforced. The use of fighter planes such as the F-35 and steering air bodies is expensive, much more expensive than the production of the Russian drones.

According to exams from military circles, it appears that the entry is an oversight. The majority of the drones or possibly even everyone were equipped with explosives. It is striking, however, that several drones without detonation hit the ground. However, at least one drone was controlled in the direction of the Ukraine military aid at Rzeszow Airport, the dpa was explained from NATO circles. The “Spiegel” also reported about it.

What does Poland demand from NATO partners?

Prime Minister Tusk has clearly formulated Poland’s demand: “We expect significantly more support in defending Polish airspace”. Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said Sweden wanted to move to Poland at short notice to air defense and planes. The Czech Republic wants to send three helicopters of a special unit, they should help the Polish army to protect the country from drones that operate at a low height. Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans also agreed to help with air defense. According to Kosiniak-Kamysz, there are also offers from Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Finland and the Baltic States.

How does Germany react?

In fact, Germany expands the use of its combat jets in Polish airspace. As the Department of Defense announced in Berlin, Rostock-Laage, four or four Eurofighter fighting jets, will be in use instead of two or four Eurofighter fighting jets. In addition, the operation, which has so far only been planned until September 30th, will initially be extended until December 31.

France’s head of state Emmanuel Macron also announced that he will send three rafale fighting jets. The jets should contribute to the protection of the Polish airspace and the NATO east flank.

What role does Moscow play psychological warfare?

In Poland, the penetration of the Russian drones into the NATO area is not only seen as an act of military aggression, but above all as part of Moscow’s psychological warfare. “Russia is currently in no way of not doing a war in traditional understanding. It’s about confusion. The mess of a state who does not know what he really has to do with which he really has to do,” commented the newspaper “Dziennik Gazeta Prawna”.

Prime Minister Tusk warned the population not to participate in disinformation campaigns. “The spread of Russian propaganda and disinformation in today’s situation is an act on the damage to the Polish state, which directly aims at the security of the fatherland and its citizens,” wrote Tusk on X.

The Polish Ministry of Digitization also warned of disinformation online and published a list of stories that are spread by Russian and Belarusian sources. This includes the assertion that Ukraine wanted to draw the EU and NATO member Poland into war with Russia and even sent the drones to the neighboring country.

What is the situation on Poland’s eastern border?

On a total of 1,200 kilometers of its eastern border, Poland has to deal with neighbors who are not part of EU and NATO. The country borders the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, the Belarus allied with Moscow and Ukraine (535 kilometers), which has been repenting a Russian attack for more than three and a half years. In this respect, goals in Poland are easily accessible for Russian drones, as these can also be started from Belarus or Kaliningrad.

In Warsaw you look at the planned Russian-Belarussian military maneuver Sapad 2025 (west), which is to be held from September 12th to September 16th. The Bundeswehr General Inspector, Carsten Breuer, assumes the Russian-Belarusian major exercise of around 13,000 practicing soldiers in Belarus and another 30,000 in the Russian field.

What are the consequences of Moscow?

There are many suggestions to show strength to Moscow: tougher sanctions, a final European exit from Russian oil and liquid gas, the collection of frozen Russian credit.

In addition to strengthening Polish air defense, military steps are also discussed. The CDU security politician Roderich Kiesewetter called it sensible to “take over air defense over West Ukraine, that is, to integrate the air defense into NATO defense and to shoot unmanned missiles”.

This is an old request from Ukraine, whose Foreign Minister Andrij Sybiha repeated it on Wednesday. However, no decision was made, said Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski. So far, the western ally Kiev have spared this step to avoid direct military confrontation with Moscow.

But there could also be a danger if there are no consequences. “The political reaction, albeit late, was very clear and closed,” said security expert Claudia Major to Deutschlandfunk. “But if nothing else happens, Russia can actually pull the apprenticeship, you can continue to test the next time.”