© EPA/YVES BOUCAU The Ukrainian experience will be transferred to the entire Alliance.
NATO is formulating a substantial restructuring of its aerial protection framework prior to the upcoming July summit, incorporating teachings derived from Russia’s conflict against Ukraine, as reported by Bloomberg, referencing sources privy to the discussions.
The restructuring entails a shift in the North Atlantic Alliance’s strategy, transitioning from an aerial patrol model, which involves overseeing sovereign airspace during peacetime, towards a comprehensive air defense focused on countering penetrations or assaults by missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles. The sources requested anonymity due to the confidential nature of the consultations.
The previous year, Poland’s reaction to drone intrusions into its airspace garnered censure, with sophisticated weaponry deployed to neutralize the inexpensive drones. Subsequently, Warsaw initiated discussions within NATO, deeming the event an “act of aggression” by Moscow.
Since that time, analogous occurrences have transpired in other member nations of the Alliance. As a result, NATO has revealed an augmentation of its eastern boundary – through rectifying air defense deficiencies and integrating response mechanisms. Operation Eastern Sentry has evolved into “an entirely novel defense strategy,” according to Alex Hrynkevich, NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe, during the past year.
The purpose of the existing reform is to solidify the permanence of the mission. It endeavors to augment the capacity to discourage threats emanating from drones and high-velocity missiles, according to a high-ranking NATO military official. The alliance intends to utilize both land-based interceptors and airborne elements.
In the summer of the preceding year, NATO urged European nations to increase their ground-based air defense forces by a factor of five.