NATO Faces Growing Drone Threat as Russia Tests Defenses Over Poland
Days after air raid sirens and NATO fighter jets disrupted a quiet evening in eastern Poland, Europe is left asking a critical question: was Russia deliberately testing NATO’s air defenses, and what does the response reveal about the alliance’s long-term readiness?
Polish officials say nearly two dozen Russian drones briefly crossed NATO airspace in what they believe was a calculated probe. The drones, identified as low-cost Gerbera models made from plywood and Styrofoam, cost an estimated $10,000 each to produce. In contrast, NATO scrambled multimillion-dollar F-16s and F-35s, spending tens of thousands of dollars in fuel and maintenance for each interception.
“The cost imbalance doesn’t work,” said Robert Tollast of the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI). While NATO jets successfully countered a massive Iranian drone and missile attack on Israel earlier this year, experts warn such defenses are financially unsustainable if repeated at scale.
NATO Slow to Adapt to Asymmetric Drone Threats
According to defense experts, the technology to counter drones already exists — but NATO’s procurement systems remain outdated and slow.
Johannes Pinl, CEO of UK-based MARSS, which develops AI-powered drone interceptors, said NATO could already secure much of Poland’s border with a “drone wall” — a layered network of detection and defense. However, he argues that defense ministries are stuck in a bureaucratic process “still in the 1980s.”
MARSS has developed a reusable titanium-framed interceptor drone capable of cutting through incoming threats at speed, yet it still awaits NATO evaluation.
Similarly, Dutch company Robin Radar Systems, whose technology is widely used in Ukraine, says it can detect Shahed drones from 12 kilometers away. But CEO Siete Hamminga noted that while urgent requests for Ukraine bypass bureaucracy, NATO members face lengthy approval processes to procure the same systems for themselves.
Ukraine War Accelerates Drone Innovation
The ongoing war in Ukraine has become a real-time testing ground for drone technologies.
Portuguese-founded defense startup Tekever, for example, has supplied over $350 million worth of AR3 surveillance drones to Ukraine since 2022. Britain’s Royal Air Force recently adopted the AR3 into its StormShroud electronic warfare system, fast-tracking development based on Ukraine’s battlefield data. Tekever has since opened a new drone production facility in southern England, creating 1,000 jobs to meet demand.
UK Defence Chief Richard Knighton emphasized the urgency of this shift, saying NATO must innovate at a “wartime pace.”
Latvian startup Origin Robotics has also developed attack, surveillance, and interceptor drones in response to Russia’s threat. Its BEAK and BLAZE drones, initially deployed in Ukraine, are now in use by Latvia and the UK. CEO Agris Kipurs stressed that small nations like Latvia cannot afford traditional defense options and must innovate with homegrown solutions.
US Pushes for Faster Drone Deployment
Even the newly restructured US Department of War is racing to catch up. In a July memo, Secretary Pete Hegseth admitted U.S. forces lack the small, lethal drones needed on today’s battlefield. He called for cutting red tape and empowering frontline units to directly procure drones.
“The lesson from Ukraine is simple: experiment,” said Tollast, arguing NATO needs a “high-low mix” — combining advanced systems like F-35s and Patriot missiles with cheaper, faster-to-deploy interceptors.
Russia Ramps Up Drone Production
While NATO struggles with bureaucracy, Russia is accelerating drone production. Ukraine’s defense intelligence estimates Moscow is now manufacturing 5,500 drones per month, including the Geran and Gerbera variants. Earlier this month, Russia launched over 800 drones in a single night — its largest wave attack so far.
For NATO, the challenge is clear: adapt quickly or risk being outpaced in the rapidly evolving drone war.