NATO country allows Russian drones to be shot down without visual contact

Threat from Russia

First NATO country to allow firing without visual contact

In the future, Poland will allow its fighter jets to shoot down suspicious flying objects even without visual contact. The measure is a direct response to the Russian threat.

Poland decided on Monday to change the rules of engagement for his air force to be significantly tightened: In future, fighter jets will be allowed to shoot down suspicious flying objects even without visual contact if several indicators point to enemy intent. The new regulation will come into force in the coming days and is a response to increasing Russian provocations at the border, as Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk announced.

Previously, pilots had to visually identify the target before opening fire. In the future, a so-called “positive identification”, i.e. a secure assignment without visual contact, will be sufficient. A combination of radar data, approach direction, speed and reaction to friend or foe identification signals is then sufficient to authorize a shoot down. Visual contact is no longer absolutely necessary.

The Polish border with the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad is already secured with anti-tank barriers. The rules in the airspace are now also being tightened – a reaction to the experiences from the Ukraine war and the increasing number of jet drones and cruise missiles, which leave little time for a reaction.

The expansion of authority is considered a novelty within the NATO and was previously only common in a state of war or under martial law. Tomczyk emphasized that the rules are designed to avoid mistakes – such as confusing a civilian aircraft with a military one. Nevertheless, observers warn of possible risks: unusual flight paths or missing transponder responses alone are not enough to classify an aircraft as hostile.

Since the beginning of the Russian invasion of the Ukraine There are repeated airspace violations at the Polish border.