Dronët misteriozë depërtojnë në zemër të Europës: çfarë dimë deri tani
Imagine the chilling sound of a disembodied voice echoing from city loudspeakers: “Attention, please. Air raid alert in the city. Proceed to the underground shelter on level minus two.” Moments later, above the clouds, the sharp, buzzing sound of Russian drones approaching in the hundreds fills the air. This is followed by the roar of anti-aircraft fire, distant explosions, and the piercing wail of ambulance sirens in the quiet night. This is the grim reality for residents of Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities.
Drones have become a central element of modern warfare, extending far beyond the battlefield. In many Western European nations, distant from the conflict, small, unarmed drones are appearing near airports, military bases, and critical infrastructure. Western officials suspect Russia is employing civilian drones as part of a broader “hybrid warfare” strategy, aiming to test the response and resilience of NATO countries supporting Ukraine.
A significant alarm was raised on September 9th, when approximately 20 Russian drones crossed Ukrainian airspace and entered Poland, forcing the closure of four airports. Some were downed by NATO aircraft, while others crashed in various regions of the country. This incident marked one of the most serious violations of NATO airspace since the war began, reigniting the debate for a European “drone shield” – an integrated defense system stretching from the Baltic states to the Black Sea.
The drones threatening Europe are not the small ones used on the front lines in Donbas. The major concern involves larger drones capable of traveling over a thousand kilometers. Russia, which previously used Iranian-produced Shahed 136 drones, now manufactures its own version, the Geran 2, some of which were found within Poland. The increasingly urgent question is: what if Russia sends not 20, but 200, or even 2,000 drones towards Europe one day? How will NATO respond? And is it sustainable to launch fighter jets every time a drone formation appears?
The Iranian Shaheed drone: relatively inexpensive yet highly effective
Meanwhile, another phenomenon is causing serious concern across the continent: the appearance of unidentified drones, lacking any discernible markings, flying over critical infrastructure during nighttime hours. Airports in Brussels and Liege, military bases in Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Germany, and Lithuania are among the areas where these drones have been sighted. While none have been armed, the fact that they fly without identification, often in proximity to sensitive sites, strongly suggests that Russia is using intermediary groups to launch them locally, creating chaos, fear, and uncertainty.
Belgium is a primary target, hosting NATO, the EU, and the financial system Euroclear. The United Kingdom has even dispatched a team of anti-drone specialists to assist Belgium. In this climate of tension, the concept of a drone shield might seem like the natural solution. It would encompass radars, sensors, electronic jamming systems, and specialized weapons for drone destruction. However, experts state that an “impenetrable wall” is impossible. The area to be protected is vast, drones are diverse, technology evolves rapidly, and no system is 100% secure. Methods include “soft kill” (electronic jamming) and “hard kill” (missiles, cannons, aircraft, or even lasers), but each has significant limitations.
The cost is also astronomical, requiring thousands of kilometers of radar coverage and interceptors ready day and night. Although the EU is discussing funding through national budgets, European funds, and proceeds from frozen Russian assets, the project remains prohibitively expensive and politically contentious. However, as Europe seeks to build a defensive shield, Russia and Ukraine are advancing at alarming speeds in developing new drones, turning this field into a new arms race.
Any anti-drone technology has a limited lifespan, as the attacking side adapts quickly, develops new methods, and repeats the process until a way to penetrate is found. “The aggressor always observes, adapts, and repeats,” say experts.
Ultimately, some analysts pose the most difficult question: are we focusing on the arrow when the real problem is the archer? Building a shield is one thing, but truly deterring attacks requires sending a clear signal to Russia that this type of behavior has costs and consequences. However, direct NATO intervention on Russian territory to strike drone bases would be a very dangerous and potentially catastrophic step. Since February 24, 2022, NATO’s objective has remained the same: to support Ukraine without entering the war itself. Building a drone shield is part of this defensive philosophy. Striking the source from which the drones are launched is an entirely different matter, and if it is the only real solution, it is far more dangerous.
Source: BBC Indepth, prepared in Albanian ©LAPSI.AL