NATO BUILDUP: Europe Weighs Drones vs. Heavy Armor for Eastern Flank...

At the Warsaw Security Forum, European defense officials outlined a dual-track strategy: partner with Ukrainian companies on drone development while simultaneously stockpiling tanks and armored vehicles for NATO's eastern border. Lithuania's planned purchase of Finnish armored personnel carriers and 44 Leopard 2A8 tanks—with contractual requirements for anti-drone systems to be installed years after the initial deal—exemplifies how allied nations are writing weapons agreements to lock in cutting-edge technology on unpredictable timelines. The lesson from Ukraine's battlefield: heavy armor and drones work best together, not as replacements for each other.