The media reported on NATO's plans to increase ground-based air defense forces in Europe five times.

NATO is asking its European member states to increase their ground-based air defense forces fivefold. This was reported by Bloomberg on June 3, citing sources.

"The issue of increasing the number of [air defense] troops will be discussed at a meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels," the publication says.

According to sources, by increasing the number of air defenses, the alliance seeks to fill its gap in air defense against the background of the alleged "Russian aggression."

According to the agency, over the past 30 years, NATO has reduced the number of air defense systems, as the alliance's main focus has been on threats in the Middle East and North Africa.

Bloomberg added that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz intends to accelerate the increase in Berlin's defense spending and invest heavily in strengthening the air defense system.

Return the weapons: NATO declared the need for a new military doctrine

The West views the conflict in Ukraine as a laboratory of modern warfare

On May 13, military expert Alexei Leonkov said that Russia's special military operation in Ukraine had exposed NATO's vulnerability. According to him, the alliance countries have not been able to create an effective air defense system in Ukraine that could withstand Russian aviation.