NATO Deploys First Drone Defense Wing to Baltics

Spain's 15th Wing has made history by deploying to the Baltics with counter-drone defenses for the first time, marking a significant evolution in NATO's air policing strategy. The fighter wing arrived at Šiauliai Air Base in Lithuania during December 2025, bringing the Crow counter-drone system alongside traditional air patrol capabilities.

This four-month rotation represents a direct response to escalating uncrewed threats that have plagued European infrastructure over recent months. The deployment underscores how NATO militaries are fundamentally rethinking base protection and airspace defense as drones increasingly expose vulnerabilities across the continent.

The 15th Wing arrived at Šiauliai Air Base in December to begin its rotation supporting NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission, which protects airspace around Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. While this unit has deployed to the region on multiple occasions previously, this marks the first time the wing has been accompanied by dedicated counter-drone technology.

The Crow system represents a multi-layered defense platform capable of detecting drones through radars, cameras, and sensors, then neutralizing them with signal interference. Developed in 2019 by Spanish defense company Indra, the technology uses electronic warfare tactics from either fixed or mobile positions. The first systems were delivered to Spain's military in 2022.

Robertas Kaunas, Lithuania's minister of national defense, praised the strategic decision to include the Crow system with the fighter wing's deployment.

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.

Recent months have witnessed a disturbing pattern of drone incursions across European airspace, transforming drone defense from a theoretical concern into an urgent operational necessity. In September alone, nearly 20 Russian drones penetrated Polish airspace during an attack against Ukraine, forcing NATO forces to scramble fighter jets and even shoot some drones down.

Days later, Romania experienced a similar crisis when a Russian drone crossed its border during Ukrainian hostilities, prompting officials to scramble jets for escort operations. These incidents were followed by a wave of unidentified drones appearing across Europe, flying above or near airports, military bases, and other sensitive facilities.

Western officials have attributed some incidents to Russian operations, though Moscow has consistently rejected these allegations. Regardless of attribution, the pattern has forced NATO to surge additional assets to its Eastern flank.

• Increased fighter jet deployments to Eastern Europe
• Accelerated acquisition of counter-drone systems
• Integration of battlefield-tested Ukrainian defensive technology
• Enhanced protection for critical infrastructure

Drones present challenges fundamentally different from traditional crewed aircraft that NATO air policing has historically addressed. Lt. Col. Fernando Allen, commander of the Spanish detachment at Šiauliai, explained that these uncrewed systems fly at slower speeds, lower altitudes, and execute more erratic movements than conventional aircraft.

We are making all these kinds of new procedures — new tactics — facing this kind of threat.

Since the September incidents, the Spanish Air Force has intensified training for counter-drone operations. The 15th Wing is actively reviewing its capabilities and developing specialized procedures to address this evolving threat landscape.

The deployment also highlights a critical dilemma facing NATO militaries: how to intercept inexpensive drones without expending costly air-to-air missiles designed for sophisticated aircraft. Maj. Natalia Sanjuán Cortés, the 15th Wing's public affairs officer, acknowledged this challenge.

Because, maybe, the fighters are not the best option. And we are thinking about other systems.

The Crow system at Šiauliai provides comprehensive protection for military aircraft and the air base itself, with its coverage extending to the surrounding city as well. This multi-layered approach represents NATO's shift toward integrated defense systems that can respond to diverse threat profiles.

The system's electronic warfare capabilities allow it to neutralize drones through signal interference, offering a cost-effective alternative to traditional missile interceptors. This capability is particularly valuable for protecting critical infrastructure against swarms of small, inexpensive drones that could overwhelm conventional defenses.

Lithuania's defense minister characterized Spain's decision to bring the Crow system as "yet another proof of allied solidarity and shared responsibility for European security." The deployment demonstrates how NATO's eastern member states are receiving tangible support as they face proximity to potential threats.

The four-month rotation will provide valuable operational data for future counter-drone deployments across the alliance, potentially establishing new standards for how NATO protects its airspace in the drone era.

Spain's deployment of the 15th Wing with counter-drone capabilities marks a watershed moment in NATO's operational doctrine. As drone technology becomes increasingly accessible to state and non-state actors alike, this integration of electronic warfare systems with traditional air policing represents the new normal for European airspace defense.

The four-month rotation at Šiauliai will serve as a proving ground for tactics, procedures, and technology that could shape NATO's approach to uncrewed threats for years to come. The lessons learned here will likely influence how the alliance structures future deployments and allocates defensive resources across its Eastern flank.

Most significantly, this deployment signals that NATO has moved beyond merely observing the drone threat—it is now actively adapting its force structure and operational concepts to meet the challenge directly. The era of relying solely on fighter jets for airspace control has definitively ended.