What is Europe's 'drone wall'?

The European Union (EU) is working on a plan to establish what it calls a “drone wall” — a defence system along the bloc’s eastern flank meant to repel unmanned aircraft from Russia.

- Jeanna Smialek

Details are scant because the effort is in its early stages.

Given the rash of recent Russian drone incursions into European airspace, officials have an incentive to move quickly.

The idea was set to be discussed on Oct 1 in Copenhagen as leaders from the 27-nation bloc gather to talk about trade and defence.

HOW DID THE IDEA COME ABOUT?

Dr Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the EU’s executive arm, floated the idea of an “eastern flank watch”, including the drone wall, in her annual State of the Union speech in September.

The proposal had an immediate sense of urgency.

Russian drones had entered Polish airspace that same day.

Later in September, Romania reported a Russian drone incursion, and Russian fighter jets entered the skies over Estonia.

A kickoff planning call took place last week, joined by representatives of nations near Russia — Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Poland, Slovakia and Finland — as well as Denmark, which holds an EU leadership role.

“We need to act now — Europe must deliver a strong and united response to Russia’s drone incursions at our borders,” Dr von der Leyen said on Sept 30.

“That is why we will propose immediate actions to create the drone wall.”

WHAT IS A DRONE WALL, AND WHAT WOULD IT DO?

Many countries already have or are working on anti-drone technologies.