UK Urged to Collaborate with NATO on Missile Defence Amid Russian Drone Threat

Published: 12 September 2025 | English Chronicle Desk

Britain should work closely with NATO allies to develop an integrated air and missile defence system in response to recent Russian drone incursions into Poland, defence experts have said. Nearly 20 Russian drones entered Polish airspace last week, prompting renewed concerns about the readiness of European defences and the capacity of NATO to respond effectively.

Fiona Hill, a former White House adviser and member of the UK strategic defence review team, warned that Russia was “testing the limits” of European defences at a time when the United States’ military commitment to NATO remains uncertain. “The message from this is that there needs to be an integrated air and ballistic missile defence system—and that Europeans are going to have to realise they will have to do this themselves,” Hill said. She emphasised that US assurances of support, while politically significant, are unlikely to be accompanied by additional troop deployments to NATO’s eastern flank.

Highlighting the challenge posed by Russian actions, Hill noted that former US President Donald Trump repeatedly expressed a preference for domestic military deployment over foreign intervention, underscoring the need for European states to bolster their own defences.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk reported that only three or four of the 19 Russian drones were successfully intercepted, raising fears that Moscow could inflict more significant damage in future operations. Some drones penetrated over 100 miles into Polish territory, testing both civilian and military air defences. NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander for Europe, General Alexus Gregory Grynkewich, acknowledged discrepancies in the reported drone numbers and reiterated the alliance’s commitment to strengthening airspace monitoring and protection. “Based on the lessons from these events, we’re going to continue to work to improve our ability to defend every single inch of alliance airspace,” he said during a press conference in Lithuania.

The UK has also been exploring proactive measures to enhance European defences. British officials noted that Project Octopus—a bilateral agreement with Ukraine to develop drones capable of intercepting Russian Shahed drones—could be deployed not only in Ukraine but also to reinforce Poland’s air defences. Defence Secretary John Healey highlighted the strategic importance of such collaborations during the DSEI arms fair in London, stating that the UK must be “more ready to fight” to deter escalating Russian aggression. “What we get is the learning from the Ukrainians,” Healey said. “What we get is the shared IP. What we get are the products of what we produce with the Ukrainians available for ourselves and our own armed forces, not just to supply the Ukrainians and their defence.”

Healey has directed the British military to assess ways to strengthen Poland’s air defences. Potential options under consideration include the deployment of RAF Typhoon jets to an expanded air policing mission in Eastern Europe, complementing six fighters already on NATO duty earlier this summer.

Sir Richard Barrons, a former army general and member of the UK strategic defence review team, described the drone incursion as “a deliberate act” by Russia, albeit using unarmed Gerbera decoy drones rather than combat Shaheds, which he characterized as “a minor act of provocation.” He warned that NATO’s current defences are insufficient even for such a limited tactical challenge, noting that using fighter jets to counter drones represents “massive overkill” yet underscores the urgent need to enhance medium- and low-level air defence capabilities.

Barrons further argued that protecting Western airspace against missile and drone threats effectively means “defending on the goal line,” and suggested that credible deterrence would require intercepting Russian aircraft launching attacks over allied territories. However, he acknowledged that this approach could be politically sensitive, given NATO’s long-standing commitment to maintaining a defensive posture.

The events have renewed debate among European and British defence circles over the pace of NATO’s strategic modernisation, the integration of emerging drone and missile technologies, and the shared responsibility among allies to ensure that airspace integrity can withstand increasingly sophisticated threats.