Eastern Flank Deterrence Line (EFDL)
What is EFDL

EFDL Deterrance Capabilities

NATO’s Eastern Flank Deterrence Line (EFDL) is a NATO regional initiative led by Allies, supported by U.S. Army Europe and Africa, to defeat adversary mass and momentum with low cost, attritable uncrewed systems, AI-enabled targeting, and layered defenses.

EFDL is the transformational warfighting concept that harnesses the U.S. Army's Continuous Transformation strategy to enhance NATO's deterrence posture in line with NATO Regional Plans. It leverages uncrewed and minimally crewed systems, backed with an integrated mission command network using live data to accelerate decision-making, to offset forward posture and counter adversary advantages in mass and momentum.

It is complementary to multi-national and multi-lateral efforts such as Poland's East Shield and informs ground deterrence with NATO’s Eastern Sentry.

Europe Africa EFDL Videos
Video by Markus Rauchenberger
2CR CEC demolition training
Training Support Activity Europe
Feb. 24, 2026 | 3:34
U.S. Soldiers assigned to Combat Engineer Company, 2nd Cavalry Regiment conduct demolition training at the 7th Army Training Command's Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, Feb. 25, 2026. 2CR provides V Corps, America’s forward-deployed corps, with combat-credible forces capable of rapid deployment throughout the European theater in support of the Eastern Flank Deterrence Line to defend the NATO alliance. (U.S. Army video by Markus Rauchenberger)
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