ŠIAULIAI AIR BASE, Lithuania – A Spanish fighter wing deployed to the Baltics for air patrol missions alongside anti-drone defenses for the first time, a reaction to growing uncrewed threats to European infrastructure.
Spain’s 15th Wing arrived at Šiauliai Air Base in December to begin a four-month rotation contributing to NATO’s baltic Air Policing mission, designed to protect the airspace around Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. The Crow counter-drone system came with it.
The 15th Wing has deployed to the region on multiple occasions, but this is the first time that the unit has been accompanied by counter-drone technology.
The move underscores how NATO militaries are rethinking the defense of their critical infrastructure asRussian drones penetrated Polish airspace during an attack against Ukraine, pushing NATO forces to scramble fighter jets in response and even shoot some of them down.
A hangar at Šiauliai, where Spain deployed counter-drone technology last month. Jake Epstein/Business Insider
Days later, Romania scrambled jets to
Spain is deploying a counter-drone system to Lithuania as part of its fighter wing deployment to bolster NATO’s air defenses in the Baltic region. The system, known as Crow, is designed to detect, identify, and disrupt enemy drones – from fixed or mobile positions.The first system was delivered to Spain’s military in 2022.
Robertas Kaunas, Lithuania’s minister of national defense, praised Spain’s decision to bring the Crow system on the fighter wing’s deployment, calling the move “yet another proof of allied solidarity and shared obligation for European security.”
“today, as the Baltic region is faced with relentless provocative actions from the east, each decision to enhance the airspace guard is a strategic signal,” Kaunas told his Spanish counterpart by phone at the start of December, according to a readout of the call.
Shifting tactics
Table of Contents
Drones have become a growing i The U.S. air Force is actively researching and developing directed energy weapons, specifically lasers, as a more cost-effective alternative to traditional missiles for countering the growing threat of low-cost drones.This shift reflects a strategic need to defend against swarms of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) without expending expensive munitions. The proliferation of commercially available drones presents a significant challenge to national security. These drones, often costing only a few hundred to a few thousand dollars, can be used for reconnaissance, electronic warfare, or even carry explosives. Intercepting these drones with traditional air-to-air missiles, which can cost hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars per shot, is economically unsustainable. According to a 2023 report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), the cost disparity between drones and interceptors is a “critical vulnerability” for the U.S. military. https://www.csis.org/analysis/countering-drone-swarms-defense-innovation-and-policy-recommendations The 15th Wing at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam,Hawaii,is among the Air Force units involved in evaluating and integrating directed energy weapons. Maj. Nat French, the 15th Wing’s directed energy office chief, highlighted the need for solutions that don’t rely on expensive missiles. The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is leading the advancement of several laser weapon systems. In january 2024, the AFRL announced accomplished testing of a high-energy laser weapon system capable of disabling drones at a range of several kilometers. https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3631691/afrl-demonstrates-high-energy-laser-weapon-system-against-drones/ This system,known as the Tactical High Energy Laser (THEL),uses a focused beam of light to disrupt the drone’s electronics or physically damage its structure. Despite the advantages, challenges remain. Atmospheric conditions, such as fog or smoke, can reduce the effectiveness of laser weapons. Power requirements and heat management are also significant hurdles. The Air Force is investing in research to address these challenges and improve the performance and reliability of directed energy weapons. The goal is to deploy operational laser weapon systems on aircraft and ground-based platforms within the next five years. the Air Force plans to allocate $200 million in fiscal year 2025 for directed energy weapon research and development, according to budget documents released in March 2024. https://breakingdefense.com/2024/03/air-force-eyes-200m-for-directed-energy-weapons-in-fy25-request/Air Force Explores Laser Weaponry to Counter Low-Cost Drones
The Rising Drone Threat and Cost Concerns
The 15th Wing’s Role and Directed Energy Weapons
Advantages of Laser Weapons
challenges and Future Development
