Brussels, Belgium – Fifteen NATO countries, including Belgium, have launched two new initiatives aimed at strengthening airspace protection and enhancing deterrence and defence capabilities. The projects focus on countering low-flying threats, particularly drones, and improving passive air surveillance.
The move comes as the war in Ukraine has demonstrated the effectiveness and dangers of modern warfare technologies, particularly the use of small, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in combat.
According to NATO, these initiatives will provide allies with advanced tools to detect and respond to airborne threats that traditional radars and satellites may not effectively track.
The fifteen countries involved in the initiative include Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Turkey, and the United Kingdom.
In addition to these nations, the Czech Republic has joined the second initiative focusing on passive air surveillance, bringing the total number of participants in that project to sixteen.
Tackling Low-Flying Threats
One of the initiatives is dedicated to enhancing defences against low-altitude threats, particularly those flying under 150 metres.
The increasing use of drones in Ukraine has demonstrated the necessity of better countermeasures against such aerial threats.
These unmanned systems can be used for reconnaissance, targeting, and even direct attacks, posing a significant security challenge for military and civilian infrastructure.
By collaborating on research, development, and procurement, NATO allies aim to create more cost-effective and efficient solutions to counter this emerging threat.
According to a NATO statement, the joint effort will lead to better interoperability among the participating nations and help reduce costs by sharing resources and technology.
Advancing Passive Air Surveillance
The second initiative, which includes the Czech Republic in addition to the fifteen original participants, focuses on passive air surveillance. This approach involves the use of non-traditional detection methods, such as sound detection, to identify incoming aerial threats.
Unlike active radar systems, which emit signals to detect objects, passive surveillance relies on existing environmental signals and noise, making it a crucial tool for detecting stealthy or low-altitude threats that may evade radar detection.
“NATO states that it is essential to identify incoming threats that cannot be detected by active air surveillance capacities like radars and satellites,” the alliance said in a statement.
With modern conflicts increasingly involving stealth technologies and drone warfare, passive detection systems offer an additional layer of security, enhancing NATO’s overall air defence capabilities.
Strategic Collaboration to Reduce Costs
The two initiatives will not only bolster NATO’s airspace security but also streamline costs by improving the interoperability of existing systems and jointly developing new technologies.
This collaborative approach is expected to enhance efficiency while ensuring that member states can deploy effective countermeasures against modern threats.
The signing ceremony for both initiatives took place on Thursday at NATO headquarters in Brussels, where defence ministers from participating member states convened.
As the security landscape continues to evolve, NATO remains committed to strengthening its defensive capabilities to counter emerging threats in modern warfare. These latest projects underscore the alliance’s proactive approach in adapting to new challenges and ensuring the safety of its member states.
