NATO's delayed response to the growing threat of cheap strike drones has left the alliance scrambling to adapt to modern warfare tactics, according to Adm. Pierre Vandier, Supreme Allied Commander Transformation of NATO. Iranian-designed Shahed drones, utilized extensively in the Middle East and Ukraine, have exposed vulnerabilities in traditional defense systems.
A Warning Ignored
Vandier pointed to the 2019 attack on Saudi Arabia's Aramco oil facilities as a critical warning. Iranian-backed proxies used Shahed drones to strike energy targets, setting a precedent for low-cost, high-impact warfare. Despite this, NATO failed to prioritize counter-drone strategies, leaving the alliance unprepared for Russia's large-scale drone attacks on Ukraine beginning in 2022.
'Ukraine has helped us to push the limits,' Vandier said. 'We thought our warfighting was the best in the world. That's why we trained Ukraine.'
Learning from Ukraine
NATO has since turned to Ukraine for expertise, launching the Joint Analysis Training and Education Centre (JATEC) in February 2025. This initiative aims to develop cost-effective air defenses and incorporate real-time battlefield lessons into NATO's planning. Ukraine's counter-drone specialists have also been deployed to Middle East nations facing Iranian drone threats, showcasing Kyiv's leadership in modern warfare.
While NATO seeks to catch up, the alliance acknowledges that Moscow has also adapted, making Russia a more formidable adversary. The lessons from Ukraine underscore the urgent need for NATO to rethink its approach to drone warfare or risk falling further behind.