Moldova is transforming its security architecture amid an unstable regional environment marked by hybrid threats and a war at its border, Defense Minister Anatolie Nosatii said in an exclusive interview with public broadcaster Moldova 1. He said the modernization of the National Army benefits from more than 100 million euros in European funding, alongside unprecedented domestic financing.
The Moldova 1 team accompanied the defense minister during a working visit to an engineering battalion, where troops carried out training activities. Nosatii explained that existing monitoring systems face technical challenges in detecting small aerial objects and warned that the sky has become a growing source of risk.
“Modern drones come in various sizes and have a much smaller radar cross section than aircraft or missiles, which makes them harder to detect. Their flight altitude also challenges radar systems,” Nosatii said.
The minister announced that the army will make drone training mandatory as part of military education and will adapt to modern tactics that combine reconnaissance and offensive actions to increase operational effectiveness.
“Drones are a priority for equipping the army. We will require all military personnel, from contract soldiers to officers, to train in operating drones. The war in Ukraine has shown how drones have changed the nature of warfare. We already use reconnaissance drones that can scan terrain to a depth of up to one meter, as well as drones capable of combat missions,” he said.
To close security gaps, authorities in Chisinau have accelerated the procurement of advanced monitoring equipment. Nosatii also announced a timeline for bringing new systems online.
“We will receive the next radar system at the beginning of 2026, and we aim to make it fully operational by the end of the first half of the year. It will allow us to detect smaller objects, including drones,” the defense minister said.