NATO and UK advance integrated air and missile defence capabilities

NATO has conducted a multinational air and missile defence exercise over Romania, marking a strategic shift from traditional air policing toward a multi-layered defence system. The exercise, known as the Flexible Deterrent Option, involved fighter and tanker aircraft from France, Greece, Romania, Spain, and Türkiye. The training focused on Integrated Air and Missile Defence (IAMD) to counter a broader range of threats, including conventional aircraft, drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles.

In a related effort to bolster Euro-Atlantic security, the United Kingdom is collaborating with NATO allies to develop future sensing capabilities. This includes space-based systems designed to detect, assess, and track threats. UK Defence Readiness and Industry Minister Luke Pollard stated that the government is investing £790 million into homeland IAMD, focusing on command and control, new radars, and sensing infrastructure. The goal is to create a common air and missile defence picture by integrating ground, airborne, maritime, and space-based sensors into a unified NATO framework.