NATO is carrying out a sweeping overhaul of its air defense system to confront drones, military aircraft and ballistic missiles approaching from any direction. Despite the expanded responsibilities, the alliance’s military command has received neither additional personnel nor new weapons to support the changes. The situation was detailed by Rapporteur, citing Lieutenant General Guillaume Thomas, deputy commander of NATO’s Allied Air Forces.

The decision to reshape the alliance’s aerial defenses dates back to autumn 2025, when drones appeared in Polish airspace. By 2026, NATO had quietly moved away from its traditional reliance on air patrols toward a comprehensive air defense structure. Two previously separate missions were brought together: one focused on countering aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles, while the other dealt with ballistic missile threats. Military leaders also consolidated command arrangements and standardized the rules for employing weapons, seeking faster responses to incoming threats.

According to Thomas, the reorganized system is designed to defend against attacks from all directions, providing full 360-degree coverage. However, the broader mission has not brought any increase in resources. Staffing levels at NATO’s air command remain unchanged, and no new operational capabilities have been made available. So far, the overhaul has largely improved coordination among forces already at the alliance’s disposal.

A particularly serious challenge is the shortage of affordable weapons capable of intercepting drones. Shooting down such targets with expensive surface-to-air missiles or fighter jets places a substantial financial burden on the alliance. Thomas therefore urged NATO member states to purchase far more low-cost interception systems, giving their militaries a wider range of options instead of depending primarily on costly weapons.

The equipment shortage extends beyond drone defense. Thomas stressed that NATO also needs upgraded command-and-control systems, additional equipment for detecting aerial threats and greater use of ground-based air defense units. Mobile fire teams and helicopters are among the capabilities he considers necessary. At present, the alliance lacks the resources required to fully implement these plans.

The general also warned that a potential adversary might not limit itself to isolated strikes in a large-scale conflict. Instead, NATO forces could face successive waves of concentrated aerial attacks, requiring a much broader range of defensive capabilities than those currently available.