The Unconventional Swiftly Overtaking the Conventional in Conflict

"The U.K. and our E5 partners are stepping up -- investing together in the next generation of air defence and autonomous systems to strengthen NATO's shield."

"We have some of the best kit on the entire planet for shooting down air threats. The problem is to be effective at shooting down relatively low-cost missiles, drones and other threats facing us."

"We need to make sure that we're matching the cost of the threats with the cost of defence."

Luke Pollard, British Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry  

French soldiers holds a soft-kill counter-drone gun during the Orion 2026 military exercises at Saint-Nazaire's airport, western France, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

 

"Combat technologies and techniques are changing rapidly -- we must respond quickly and appropriately."

"We also signed a crucial commitment regarding the joint development of drone-based strike capabilities, low-cost joint production, and joint procurement of drone effectors, i.e., combat payloads, using artificial intelligence." 

Polish Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz  

A new program for the production of low-cost air defence systems and autonomous drones with the use of the expertise Ukraine has gained during its operational defence and counter-offence against the Russian invasion over the past four years fighting the Russian military has been announced by a coalition of five European nations. France, Poland, Germany, the United Kingdom and Italy announced a joint initiative, among many European plans to increase defence along their borders, similar to the 'drone wall', to improve detection, tracking and interception of drones violating European airspace. 

 

Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine and hybrid operations targeting infrastructure, public opinion and cyberspace, sees Europe facing a persistent, multi‑domain challenge.  Saab/NATO

 

Throughout the conflict, both Kyiv and Moscow have developed cutting-edge drone warfare advantages, using the sombre real-time theatre of war, leading to battlefield innovation which has in the very nature of their departure from what is considered to be 'normal' conflict interactions redrawn the usual in favour of distance combat in drone technology as battlefield tactics have changed forever. Poland has launched its own drive to refine its combat readiness, alongside Ukraine with the use of drone technology in joint manufacturing projects and military training programs.

 

A number of concerning incidents where Europe's borders and airports were being 'tested' by Russia's provocative use of rogue drones, spurred these efforts to redefine old tried-and-true battlefield techniques, grown stale in the face of the new drone technology which now launches and strikes with remote control. The group of five European countries signed an agreement to invest jointly in the production and procurement of drone-based strike capabilities. Partnered with inexpensive drone defence systems in a program dubbed Low-Cost Effectors and Autonomous Platforms (LEAP).

 

Lesson learned. Warsaw and its NATO allies made use of multimillion-dollar jets in response to drones that cost thousands to produce, when Russian drones entered Polish airspace in September of 2025. The emerging realization that low-cost kinetic or electronic effectors would effectively detect and destroy drones at a fraction of the price, set in. This energetic new drive toward responsive action against Russian provocation is the result of Europe acting frantically to arm itself following scathing criticism by U.S. President Donald Trump, faced by Europe and NATO.  

European drone wall  Reuters

"Europe’s security is more uncertain than it has been in decades [given Russian aggression, instability in the Middle East, China and a “redefined” alliance with the U.S. The low-cost interceptor program exemplifies the European commitment to its own security]."

"If we want to keep our country safe, we must strengthen our hard power. The good news is that we are already investing record sums in defence."

"Europe is stepping up. but it’s not about competing with NATO. It’s about making Europe stronger within NATO. A stronger Europe makes the alliance also stronger."

Kaja Kallas, the EU’s foreign policy chief