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In the white paper Building Counter-UAS Into NATO’s Eastern Shield, Alpine Eagle examines how NATO’s conceptual Eastern Shield architecture could evolve to counter the growing threat posed by low-cost Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and loitering munitions.
While existing defences such as fixed radar networks and surface-based interceptors form a strong foundation, the paper notes that these systems alone leave detection and cost-efficiency gaps when facing low-altitude, high-volume drone incursions.
The study explains that ground-based radar, though proven and reliable, faces limitations in detecting small drones in forests, littoral regions, and mountainous terrain. These blind spots often require costly fighter deployments for interception, a strategy that becomes unsustainable when confronted with mass drone use or extended operations.
To strengthen the overall design, Alpine Eagle outlines the potential inclusion of airborne counter-UAS platforms as a mobile, persistent, and adaptive second layer within the defensive network. Airborne radar is described as a means to close terrain-induced gaps, maintain coverage when ground sensors are disrupted, and provide relocatable surveillance and interception capability. When integrated into NATO’s existing command and control systems, such assets could enable faster detection and proportionate engagement cycles across borders.
This multi-layered detect–decide–defeat framework, combining fixed radar, airborne sensors, and electronic warfare elements, is designed to enhance coverage, cost discipline, and scalability in both grey-zone and wartime conditions. Alpine Eagle’s analysis concludes that this approach offers a credible path toward a flexible, economically sustainable counter-UAS posture along NATO’s eastern frontier.
Read the full whitepaper to explore Alpine Eagle’s detailed examination of airborne radar integration, layered defence architecture, and system interoperability within the evolving Eastern Shield concept.
