S 3262 NATO Air Defense Strategy Act 2025

Summary

Requires the Secretary of Defense, with the Secretary of State, to collaborate with NATO to create and execute a strategy for a multi-layered air defense to counter unmanned aerial systems and deter Russian aggression.

Identifies gaps in NATO defense, such as challenges using cost-effective technologies like artificial intelligence against low-cost drones.

Mandates describing current U.S. contributions and future Department of Defense (DoD) actions to enhance NATO's development and deployment of low-cost defense technologies and unmanned aerial systems.

Instructs the submission of the strategy and necessary changes to Congress within 90 days and an interim report by March 15, 2027.

Defines key terms such as "appropriate congressional committees" and "NATO" for clarity on reporting processes and involved entities.

Requires the Secretary of Defense to strategize and implement an air defense system against unmanned aerial systems.

119th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 3262

To require the Secretary of Defense to develop and implement a strategy to field an integrated air defense system to bolster the capability of NATO to defeat unmanned aerial systems and deter Russian aggression, and for other purposes.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES November 20, 2025 Mr. Bennet (for himself and Ms. Ernst) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

A BILL To require the Secretary of Defense to develop and implement a strategy to field an integrated air defense system to bolster the capability of NATO to defeat unmanned aerial systems and deter Russian aggression, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

Requires the Secretaries of Defense and State to develop strategies for NATO air defense against unmanned systems.

SECTION 1. INTEGRATED NATO AIR DEFENSE AGAINST UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS.

(a) In General.—The Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of State, shall engage the Secretary General of NATO and relevant policymakers of NATO countries to develop and implement a strategy to rapidly field a multi-layered, integrated air defense system that would bolster allied air defense capabilities to defeat unmanned aerial systems and deter Russian aggression against NATO, particularly against the alliance’s eastern flank members, including Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Romania.

Identifies gaps in NATO's defense against drones, emphasizing AI, and outlines U.S. contributions and actions.

(b) Elements.—The strategy required by subsection (a) shall—

(1) identify existing gaps in the defense efforts of NATO against unmanned aerial systems, particularly with regard to—

(A) impediments to using mass-produced, low-cost effectors, such as improved ammunition and rockets, against low-cost unmanned aerial systems, which risk requiring NATO to use expensive, high-cost weaponry, thereby depleting NATO stocks in a non-economical manner;

(B) impediments to using next-generation technologies, such as artificial intelligence and high-power microwave weapons, to better coordinate defense responses; and

(C) impediments to allied command and control, multilateral coordination, leveraging of shared facilities, and enhancing operability;

(2) describe current United States contributions to NATO air defense and identify future actions to be taken over the next five years by the Department of Defense—

(A) to enhance the ability of NATO to produce, at scale, low-cost effectors, such as improved ammunition and rockets, to defeat low-cost unmanned aerial systems;

(B) to enhance the ability of NATO to develop next-generation technologies to defeat low-cost unmanned aerial systems, particularly artificial intelligence and high-power microwave weapons, to better coordinate defense responses; and

(C) to expand the production by NATO of mass-produced, low-cost unmanned aerial systems, including through cooperation with Ukraine, given Ukraine’s demonstrated expertise in the production of low-cost unmanned aerial systems; and

(3) describe actions that NATO and specific NATO allies, including the United States, should take over the next five years—

(A) to solve the impediments described in subsection (b)(1); and

(B) to achieve the goals described in subsection (b)(2).

Requires the Secretary of Defense to submit NATO air defense strategy and progress report to Congress.

(c) Submission.—Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees the strategy required by subsection (a), including an identification of—

(1) any changes to funding or policy required to bolster NATO's multi-layered, integrated air defense against unmanned aerial systems; and

(2) any additional resources required to carry out the specific initiatives described in subsection (b).

(d) Interim Report On Implementation.—Not later than March 15, 2027, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the progress made in implementing the strategy required by subsection (a), including any gaps in resources or authorities identified in the ability of the Department of Defense to implement the strategy.

Defines terms: "appropriate congressional committees" includes defense committees; "NATO" means North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

(e) Definitions.—In this section:

(1) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.—The term “appropriate congressional committees” means—

(A) the congressional defense committees; and

(B) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives.

(2) NATO.—The term “NATO” means the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.