NATO faces a critical gap in air defense capabilities against cheap, mass-produced drone swarms. Drawing on Ukraine's battlefield experience, experts argue that Western alliances must shift from relying on expensive interceptor missiles to layered, affordable systems produced at scale. Ukraine now deploys interceptor drones costing as little as $2,000 each, accounting for the majority of drone takedowns. Key challenges include software interoperability between drone systems and command-and-control infrastructure, industrial production capacity, and political will. The UK and European allies have launched the LEAP program to develop low-cost air defense systems by 2027.
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