Modern War Institute

Europe's Airspace Violations and the Counterdrone Challenge

17 snips
Oct 15, 2025
Dr. Stacie Pettyjohn, a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, joins to discuss the rising threats posed by drones to national airspaces. She highlights the differences between civilian and military drone incidents, emphasizing NATO's challenges in countering these threats. Pettyjohn delves into necessary investments in detection technology and automation for swift responses. She also explores the complexities of scaling drone production and the promise of future defeat technologies like lasers and high-power microwaves.
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INSIGHT

Drones Blur Civilian And Military Lines

  • Drones are cheap, accessible, and used by many different actors, linking battlefield and civilian airspace threats.
  • Dual-use airports blur military and civilian vulnerabilities and complicate responses.
ADVICE

Distribute Counterdrone Responsibility Down

  • Don't rely solely on centralized air defenders to stop small drones in maneuver warfare.
  • Equip battalion and company echelons with cost-effective guns, jammers, and mobile escorts to provide local protection.
ANECDOTE

Battlefield CUAS Mirrors Airport Incidents

  • The 2‑10 Mountain brigade faced persistent small UAS threats in Iraq and shot them down in base defense.
  • That experience mirrors civilian airport scares where shooting down drones is legally and operationally harder.
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