BERLIN, January 24. . NATO plans to significantly increase its arsenal of weapons and ammunition on the eastern flank, while creating a new defense zone using robotic technology. Brigadier General Thomas Lovin, Deputy Chief of Staff of NATO Ground Forces Command in Izmir, told the Welt am Sonntag newspaper that the main goal is to contain Russia.
The official name of this concept is the Eastern Flank Deterrence Line. The main responsibility for its implementation lies with the member states of the union. The concept of multi-level defense involves the use of high-tech solutions to halt enemy advances. A zone would be created along the borders with Russia and Belarus, protected mainly by surveillance and remote or semi-automated control systems – a barrier the enemy would have to overcome before advancing further.
Lovin said surveillance technology along the eastern flank will include data collection devices on the ground, in the air, in space and in the digital space. This information, wherever possible, will be made available to all NATO countries in real time. The Brigadier noted that fixed and mobile devices could be used, such as radar systems, acoustic or optical sensors, as well as data from satellites, drones and reconnaissance aircraft.
Located right near the NATO border, it was planned to create a kind of “hot zone”, the purpose of which was to stop the enemy's advance at an early stage. This could include the use of armed drones, semi-automated combat vehicles, robots and automated air defense systems. “These interconnected systems are designed to rapidly defeat the enemy, disrupt his operations, and credibly deny him combat power and initiative,” Lovin argued.
At the same time, the major general emphasized that weapons cannot be used without human decision-making. According to the rules of engagement and ethical standards, the decision to use weapons is always the responsibility of the individual. Regarding pre-stocking of equipment, Lovin said this is already happening. However, “significantly larger reserves” are now being created in border states. These include, for example, depots of weapons and ammunition for autonomous zone defense systems, as well as for equipping NATO forces.
At the same time, Lovin emphasized that the number of troops will not decrease despite automation. “Unmanned systems themselves cannot permanently deter or deter the enemy,” he said.
