Poland will allow its fighter jets and helicopters to shoot down foreign aircraft detected by radar under special wartime defense measures, Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk said Monday.
Under the change, a pilot or operational commander will be able to decide to down a foreign aircraft based on radar readings or other information entering the system. It replaces the standard peacetime rule, under which opening fire requires visual identification of the target.
"We cannot remain idle when it comes to threats, and the indications are that there will only be more of them," Tomczyk said. He noted that such authority is usually reserved for a state of war or martial law, and said the change was made in part because Poland faces the possibility of drones entering its territory on a daily basis.
The move is the latest step by the NATO and EU member to strengthen its defenses as the war in neighboring Ukraine heads into its fifth winter and allies warn of a growing threat from Russian drones.
Poland has already faced direct incursions. In September 2025, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said a large number of Russian drones violated Polish airspace during a Russian attack on Ukraine, and that those posing a direct threat were shot down with the help of NATO allies. Days later, Tusk said Poland was ready to take direct military action against foreign aircraft violating its airspace.
