Escalating Drone Incursions Paralyzing European Airports and Challenging NATO Security

A plane grounded at Munich International Airport on October 4 following reports of drone sightings

Recent weeks have witnessed alarming mysterious drone flights over European Union airspace, causing significant concern among citizens and government officials alike.

NATO airspace intrusions, some attributed to Russia, reached unprecedented levels last month. European officials suggested Moscow was testing NATO's response capabilities, raising serious questions about the alliance's preparedness against potential Russian threats.

On September 10, a significant incident occurred when a swarm of Russian drones entered Poland's airspace, forcing NATO aircraft to scramble for interception and ultimately shoot down several of these devices. This marked the first direct confrontation between NATO and Moscow since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022.

Shortly thereafter, NATO jets escorted three Russian warplanes out of Estonian airspace.

Subsequently, drone sightings have been reported near airports, military installations, critical infrastructure, and various other strategic locations across the continent. These incidents prompted European defense ministers to agree on developing a "drone wall" along their borders to enhance detection, tracking, and interception capabilities for airspace violations.

While Russia has been implicated in some incidents, they deny any intentional actions or involvement. European authorities have been relatively guarded with information about these drone intrusions, sometimes not publicly acknowledging overflights until days after they occurred.

In certain cases, authorities couldn't confirm reported sightings. Danish authorities at one point received approximately 500 tips about potential sightings within 24 hours, with some reports ultimately identified as stars in the night sky.

European nations are currently developing response strategies, including considering authorization for authorities to shoot down unauthorized drones.

On Thursday, Russian military planes briefly violated Lithuanian airspace in what the Lithuanian president characterized as a blatant breach of territorial integrity of his EU and NATO-member country.

Here's what we know about recent significant incidents:

Germany's Munich Airport experienced two shutdowns earlier this month due to drone sightings.

In Denmark, drones flew over Copenhagen Airport on September 22, causing major disruptions to air traffic at Scandinavia's largest aviation hub.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen stated Russian involvement couldn't be ruled out, calling it "the most serious attack on Danish critical infrastructure to date."

That same evening, Oslo Airport in Norway reported a drone sighting, necessitating traffic redirection to a single runway. Authorities are investigating possible connections between incidents at these major airports.

Between September 24-25, drones were observed over four smaller Danish airports, including two serving as military bases. Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen indicated that a "professional" actor was likely behind these "systematic flights."

During this period, several Danish media outlets reported drone sightings near or above Karup Air Base, Denmark's largest military installation.

The defense ministry declined to confirm specific sightings, stating that "for reasons of operational security and ongoing investigation, the Defense Command Denmark does not wish to elaborate further on drone sightings."

In Germany, authorities investigated reports of unidentified drones potentially conducting surveillance of critical infrastructure in Schleswig-Holstein. On September 25, multiple drones were spotted over a power plant in Kiel, as well as near a university hospital and shipyard in the port city, according to Der Spiegel.

Regional Interior Minister Sabine Sutterlin-Waack informed a state parliament committee about flying objects of "various types and sizes" being observed. Chief Public Prosecutor Stephanie Gropp confirmed an ongoing investigation.

Der Spiegel reported that two small drones were seen over the Kiel factory premises of TKMS, a maritime defense technologies provider.

Subsequently, a "combined drone formation" was observed over the university hospital and power plant, with additional drone sightings reported over governmental buildings and the Heide oil refinery in the area.

Further suspicious drone activity was detected over a military base in Sanitz, in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania state to the east, according to the weekly report.

Last month, Estonia summoned a Russian diplomat to formally protest after three Russian fighter aircraft entered its airspace without authorization and remained there for 12 minutes.

Weeks later, Lithuanian armed forces reported that around 6 p.m. local time Thursday, two Russian military aircraft entered Lithuanian airspace for approximately 700 meters (765 yards). The SU-30 aircraft and IL-78 refueling aircraft departed after roughly 18 seconds.

Lithuanian armed forces believe these military planes might have been conducting refueling exercises near the neighboring Russian exclave of Kaliningrad.

Two Spanish fighter jets on NATO air policing missions were scrambled to the area in response.

Russia's Defense Ministry rejected Lithuania's claims of airspace intrusion, stating in a release that Su-30 fighter jets conducted training flights over its Kaliningrad region in strict compliance with established protocols.

Baltic nations have maintained heightened alert due to neighboring Russia's aggression toward Ukraine.