"The September 26 video conference -- convened by EU Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius and involving several states on NATO's eastern flank, as well as Denmark and Ukraine -- aims to coordinate sensors, jammers and rapid-response rules so that small, cheap unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) can be detected and neutralized before they threaten European civil aviation or critical bases."
"On September 9-10, about 20 Russian drones reportedly crossed into Polish airspace during strikes on Ukraine, prompting airport closures and NATO aircraft scrambles. Days later, Romania reported a similar incursion near the Danube delta. On September 22, drones forced hours-long closures at Copenhagen Airport and also briefly shut Oslo's main aviation hub. More sightings later disrupted airports in the Danish cities of Aalborg and Billund and appeared near military sites."
"Eyewitnesses described UAVs with green blinking lights and authorities called the activity "hybrid" in nature, saying it appeared coordinated, though they have not officially named a perpetrator. Western officials, however, believe Moscow is behind the pattern, describing it as a form of "gray-zone" or hybrid warfare. By deploying cheap drones to harass airports and airbases, Russia can impose costly defensive responses, unsettle civilians, and probe defense vulnerabilities -- all without triggering open conflict."
Several European defense ministers held an urgent video conference to coordinate defenses against small unmanned aerial vehicles that have intruded over NATO eastern-flank states and disrupted airports. The meeting focused on linking sensors, jammers and rapid-response rules and on identifying infrastructure and funding requirements for a coordinated drone-defense system. Recent incidents included dozens of drones crossing into Polish airspace during strikes on Ukraine, reported incursions near the Danube delta in Romania, and hours-long airport closures in Copenhagen and Oslo, with additional sightings near Danish airports and military sites. Officials described the pattern as hybrid or gray-zone warfare likely aimed at probing vulnerabilities without open conflict.
Read at RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty
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