National Security and Japan-U.S. Program
IINA: Redefining Air Defense in a New Era ――Europe’s Drone Crisis Poses Challenges for Japan
The repeated incursions of small unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) into the northern and eastern fringes of Europe are not only prompting the strengthening of air defense capabilities, but also the revision and realization of existing air defense concepts. In September 2025, successive incidents of drone intrusions were confirmed in Poland, Romania, and Denmark, as well as in Estonia, where Russian fighter jets violated Estonian airspace.
By Jun Nagashima, Senior Research Advisor, Nakasone Peace Institute, Lt. Gen, JASDF (Ret.)