NATO Moves Toward ‘360-Degree’ Air Defense as Drone and Missile Threats Grow

NATO is shifting its European air defense operations away from a framework centered on air policing and toward what an alliance official described as a “multi-layered, 360-degree approach.” Traditional air policing keeps fighter jets and crews ready to launch within minutes to protect allied airspace. The updated model is designed to address a wider set of threats, including crewed aircraft, drones, and cruise and ballistic missiles.

The revised approach goes beyond Quick Reaction Alert fighter scrambles and incorporates assets across operational domains. According to the NATO official, the framework includes QRA fighter jets, surface-based air defense systems, counter-drone equipment such as mobile firing teams and helicopters, and next-generation sensors contributed by allies for placement under NATO command. The takeaway: NATO is building a layered response system rather than relying mainly on fast aircraft launches.

The transition began roughly a year ago after nearly two dozen Russian drones crossed into Polish airspace, described in the article as the largest spillover from the war in Ukraine into NATO. NATO then launched “Eastern Sentry” and moved air defense assets, including fighter jets, warships, and counter-drone systems, to allies along borders with Russia and Belarus. The official said Eastern Sentry “laid the foundation” for the new framework.

Business Insider reports a sharp uptick in unauthorized drone incursions into NATO airspace this year, including violations in the Baltic states, Finland, and Romania. Earlier this week, allied aircraft shot down a drone above Lithuania that authorities said likely crossed from Belarus. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said Russia has grown “increasingly reckless” and pointed to more drones and missiles crossing into allied airspace, as well as malign activities and hybrid attacks attributed to Russia; Moscow has repeatedly denied involvement.