NATO risks stockpiling obsolete drones by the time a possible conflict with Russia occurs

NATO is warning that a strategy of building up drone arsenals in case of a clash with Russia could result in those drones being obsolete by the time hostilities begin.

Business Insider reports this.

The outlet notes that Ukraine’s experience clearly demonstrates to Western militaries that UAV technologies can lose their battlefield relevance within a matter of months. Ukrainian manufacturers make minor changes to their products up to 20 times a month, while major updates are released every six months. Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council Deputy Secretary David Aloyan stated that “speed is critical,” since within a few months “solutions are already becoming obsolete.”

Against this backdrop, a number of senior alliance officials are speaking out against simply stockpiling drones. NATO Assistant Secretary General for Defence Innovation and Acquisition Tarja Jaakola stated that in the field of drones and countermeasures against them, it is impossible to operate according to the old model.

“You can’t do it the old way — procure, store, and wait. We need to change how we do procurement,” she said, calling for strategic partnerships with industry rather than one-off cooperation.

Bundeswehr Inspector General Carsten Breuer questioned the advisability of large-scale drone procurement right now. According to him, stockpiling millions of UAVs does not guarantee the alliance’s readiness by 2029 — the deadline by which, in Berlin’s assessment, Russia could be prepared for a clash with NATO.

“Can we talk about millions if by 2029 they will already be obsolete?” the general asked.

Breuer emphasized that what matters is not only the speed of procurement, but also continuous engagement with the industrial base, as well as the military’s willingness to test and dispose of outdated models.

Jaakola called Ukraine’s experience an important lesson for the alliance: there, companies receive feedback from the military and deliver solutions “within a matter of weeks.” In the view of Western military commanders, drones will in any case remain a central element of future military conflicts.

The topic of a possible clash with Russia regularly features in statements by NATO leadership. Alliance Secretary General Mark Rutte has urged member states “not to be naive” about the threat from Moscow. German Army Commander-in-Chief Christian Freuding stated that the country “must prepare for a Russian attack” by 2029 or even earlier.

“We must be ready to fight,” he said.

Russia has repeatedly dismissed such concerns. On June 18, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated that Moscow would deliver a devastating response in the event of an attack by any NATO country. President Vladimir Putin has also emphasized that Russia has “no reason whatsoever” to go to war with alliance members.