Alliance defense: Strengthening the eastern flank: “Himmel Fortress” and catch -in -arms

NATO military planners check in a hurry for increased air defense due to the airspace injuries by Russian military drones on the eastern flank. According to the DPA, it is also weighed up how short -term further teachings from practical experiences of Ukraine could be drawn.

The commander -in -chief of the Allied armed forces in Europe (Sacur), Alexus Grynkewich, and Secretary General Mark Rutte on Friday at a press conference called the operation called “Eastern Sentry” (German for example: Guardian of the East). The aim is to use additional surveillance and air defense capacities with a joint effort.

There were already further incidents at the weekend: After the shooting of Russian drones, fighter planes had to move up to alarm starts in Poland and Romania, air defense positions were very readiness.

The planners are now checking a number of options:

Learn from Ukraine with the “Sky Fortress”

Ukraine has reacted to Russian attack drones with the “Himmel Fortress” system, the number of which has increased more and more. The Russian disposable systems – cheap, small, slow and deeply – are located via a network of thousands of microphones and localized via their acoustic signature for shooting.

In Ukraine, mobile troops are also used on platform truck that fire from machine guns and machine cannons with night vision optics.

NATO has already tested the “Sky Fortress” system in 2024. Testing devices are still stored in Estonia. Other or additional sensors are also conceivable in order to have a position image over the flying drones early and more precisely.

Start-ups: fight with drones against drones

In several European countries there are young companies that have developed. Civil technologies that have to rely on risk minimization are throwing nets on opposing drones. Technically possible are also possible weapons that neutralize or destroy attacking missiles by stirring or destroy in the air.

The Swedish start-up Nordic Air Defense has introduced its interception drone Krueger100, which supports AI and is intended to reach the finish line more than speed 270 km/h with infrared seekers.

It is considered whether there are a donor in NATO for urgent purchases of new weapon technologies. The alliance has a payment mechanism for immediate requirements for the short -term procurement of new technologies (“Crisis Urgent Requirement”).

The new generation drone defense:

Fighting deep -flying threats was the business of army flight defense, which is to be abolished in the Bundeswehr and is now being rebuilt. For the Bundeswehr, 18 Skyranger Aviation Systems were initially ordered.

The mobile aircraft system is mounted on vehicles. Drones are recorded and can be combated from a control room with a 30 millimeter revolver cannon. The technology is also available in modules that can be discontinued. A delivery is contractually agreed by 2028, and there is also a test model in the Bundeswehr. The SPD calls for the order to expand now.

The fact that NATO countries have to combat Russian Kamikaze drones with high -quality systems – fighter jets and steering aircraft – shows that the alliance is not optimally prepared on such threats. Above all, the expensive steering aircraft are in short supply, in which military economically must be prevented that armed forces are “empty”.

The planning for the further structure of the air defense against drones and entire drone swarms from Russia is in the central air force headquarters of NATO (Aircom) in Ramstein in Rhineland-Palatinate.

The CDU foreign politician Norbert Röttgen called for a procurement program for defense drones. He told the “Rheinische Post” that Germany was “almost blank” in the field. Röttgen demanded: “The Federal Government must set up a procurement program as soon as possible.”

The Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj underlined the importance of drones in defense and offered NATO support. Ukraine is ready to share its experiences. “We are ready to train all partners in this defense,” said Selenskyj. “Everyone sees that the Russians are looking for opportunities to expand the war on the area of ​​Poland and the Baltic States, the Russian army is also testing Romania.” NATO has effective defense weapons, but Ukraine has developed “much cheaper, more massive and more systematic solutions”.