Europe’s anti-drone defences are not yet adequate for a coordinated drone campaign, a new International Institute for Strategic Studies study has found, with airports and sensitive military sites among the most exposed targets. The analysis, published in London with input from the Hanns-Seidel-Stiftung, examines 144 drone incidents across 12 NATO states and Ireland between August 2024 and February 2026, and links the findings to suspected Russian activity.
The study argues that Europe’s response remains fragmented, with detection coverage uneven and legal action too slow to create effective deterrence. It also concludes that European states cannot yet reliably attribute drone attacks to Russia, even though Moscow is assessed as very likely to have mounted a campaign against Europe.
The findings returned to the policy debate after a recent drone incident in Leipzig. German politicians and security officials have used the report to underline pressure on NATO and EU members to tighten airspace protection, improve attribution capabilities and close gaps in airport security planning.