Brussels Sprouts NATO’s Counter-Drone Conundrum
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Sep 26, 2025 
This discussion features Stacy Pettyjohn, a leading expert on defense and drone threats from CNAS, and Michael Kofman, a seasoned analyst at the Carnegie Endowment. They dive into Russia's recent airspace violations and the implications for NATO. The guests explore the asymmetrical costs of drone warfare, the need for improved counter-drone capabilities, and insights from Ukraine's defense tactics. They also assess Russia's motives and the escalating risks, while highlighting the importance of NATO's readiness against these emerging threats.
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Cost Asymmetry Undermines Defense
- NATO's current counter-drone posture is not optimized for high-volume, low-cost one-way attack drones.
- Using expensive air-to-air missiles to intercept cheap drones is unsustainable and depletes stockpiles quickly.
Middle East Attacks Fracture Readiness
- The report opens with Iran-backed militias and Houthi strikes to show how frequent small attacks cumulatively degrade readiness.
- Those cumulative effects depleted interceptors and injured U.S. personnel despite individual strikes seeming unremarkable.
Use Cheaper Interceptors First
- Prioritize rapid, cost-effective intercept options like rockets and guns instead of only relying on fighter missiles.
- Invest in lower-cost munitions and tactics that preserve high-end interceptors for high-end threats.