NATO, EU scramble to boost drone defences

BRUSSELS:

NATO and the EU on Wednesday sought ways to boost anti-drone defences, as Europe scrambles to counter the threat from Russia after a series of air incursions.

High-profile incidents in Poland and Estonia have set off a flurry of activity from European officials to plug gaps in the continent's defences.

NATO has launched a new mission and beefed up forces on its eastern border, but it is playing catch-up as it tries to tap Ukraine's experience and get to grips with the drone threat from Moscow.

Alliance head Mark Rutte said NATO was now "testing integrated systems that will help us detect, track and neutralise aerial threats" for use on its eastern flank.

The push from the military alliance comes as the European Union is itself debating creating a "drone wall" to try to tackle the menace.

The EU was presenting a road map to ministers on Wednesday and hopes to get sign-off at a leaders' summit next week.