A senior NATO official announced that the alliance plans to significantly expand weapons and ammunition stockpiles along its eastern borders and establish a new defensive zone using automated technology.

General Thomas Löwen told Germany’s Die Welt that the move aims to bolster deterrence against Russia. He added that NATO is implementing a new “multi-layered” defense concept designed to slow or stop an attacker at an early stage using advanced technological systems.

The defensive zone along the borders with Russia and Belarus will heavily rely on surveillance and remotely or semi-automated systems, which any aggressor would have to overcome before advancing further.