Defence Minister Yuriko Backes explained in conversation with RTL that Luxembourg will invest €5.5 billion in defence over the next four years as part of its NATO commitments, with major efforts focused on air defence, personnel development, and space-based capabilities.
Speaking about the country's new NATO targets set at the July summit in The Hague, Backes said that Luxembourg must strengthen its defence posture both in equipment and manpower. She explained that, in addition to continuing work on the bi-national battalion with Belgium, new goals include air and missile defence systems and the creation of a deployable military hospital.
Discussions are already under way with partner countries and industry to define how Luxembourg will meet these objectives.
Strengthening military careers
Backes acknowledged that improving career prospects within the army is essential. She said that salary adjustments are "clearly necessary", especially when comparing Luxembourg's pay scales with those in neighbouring countries and within NATO. Backes confirmed she would submit specific proposals to the government in the coming weeks to make the armed forces a more attractive employer.
Drones over NATO territory
Backes also addressed the recent drone incidents observed over NATO airspace, noting that the issue is being treated very seriously. Luxembourg, she said, maintains constant interministerial coordination on the matter and is reviewing both its equipment and legal framework to improve its response capabilities.
She emphasised that, in a rule-of-law system, the police, not the army, would be responsible for neutralising drones over national territory. Backes distinguished between small surveillance drones, reportedly used by Russia to monitor NATO areas, and large armed drones, which could pose a more serious threat. In the event such a military drone needed to be intercepted over Luxembourg, Backes said the mission would be carried out by Belgian or Dutch fighter jets under the NATO framework.
Two air-defence systems for Luxembourg
According to Backes, NATO has instructed Luxembourg to acquire two complementary air-defence systems: one for low-altitude threats such as aircraft or helicopters, and another for ballistic missiles. "This is a first for Luxembourg", she said, adding that even neighbouring Belgium currently lacks such capacities. She explained that the aim is to defend critical national infrastructure while ensuring these systems can also be deployed as part of collective defence operations if required.
Luxembourg is now working with partner nations and companies to determine which models would best suit its needs, Backes said.
Space and satellite expertise
Backes highlighted Luxembourg's "unique added value" in the satellite sector, ranging from secure communications to Earth observation. She noted that a second GovSat communications satellite has been proposed under a new bill submitted to Parliament and that the August launch of the Luxeosys Earth-observation satellite was a major success. These capabilities, she said, are vital for NATO allies who rely on Luxembourg to provide such strategic services.
She also confirmed that Luxeosys should become fully operational in early 2026, strengthening both national and allied intelligence and surveillance capacities.
