NATO is preparing to strengthen its defenses along Europe’s border with Russia by creating an automated defense zone that would rely heavily on systems operating with minimal human presence over the next two years, according to a senior German military official.
Lieutenant General Thomas Löwen, deputy chief of operations at NATO’s Allied Land Command in İzmir, said the planned defensive belt would include a forward area that hostile forces would have to cross before advancing, effectively forming a high-risk buffer zone.
The proposed system would be built around an extensive network of sensors designed to detect enemy movements and activate defensive capabilities such as armed drones, semi-autonomous combat vehicles, unmanned ground robots, and automated air and missile defense systems. NATO officials stressed that final decisions on the use of force would remain under human control.
The sensors are expected to cover thousands of kilometers and would be deployed across land, air, space and cyberspace. They would gather data on enemy movements and weapons use and share the information in real time with all NATO member states.
The plan also includes reinforcing existing weapons stockpiles, maintaining troop deployments at current levels, and using cloud computing and artificial intelligence to manage and integrate the system.
Initial trials of several components are already under way through pilot projects in Poland and Romania. If feasible, NATO aims to have the automated defense system operational by the end of 2027.
The initiative follows a joint call issued in December by leaders of eight northern and eastern European countries, including Finland, Sweden, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland, Romania and Bulgaria, urging immediate priority for strengthening Europe’s eastern flank in response to the perceived Russian threat.
Follow the latest news on Google News
