"There is a loophole": Media finds out why Poland does not shoot down Russian missiles and drones
Date: 2024-09-04 Author: Кирило Загоруйко Categories: WORLD
Pilots of American F-16 fighters, which are in service with the Polish Air Force, cannot shoot down Russian air targets due to a legal loophole.
DefenceRomania journalists write that during a visit to Poland they talked to experts, journalists and high-ranking officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Security Office of the country. They discussed with them the possibility of shooting down missiles and drones flying towards Poland and Romania.
According to the country's legislation, in peacetime, a fighter pilot must establish visual contact with a target before attacking it, Polish officials explain.
"He cannot hit a target he sees on the radar until he physically sees it. He has to make sure it is not a decoy, like a Ukrainian helicopter or some other equipment. And since Russian drones or missiles enter Polish airspace for a very short period of time, they are almost impossible to shoot down," the article says.
At the same time, Polish officials are confident that violations of their country's airspace are not accidental - Russia is committing provocations to test the West's reaction speed. They know of only one case when a Russian target ended up in Poland by mistake.
Warsaw told journalists that there is currently no consensus in NATO regarding shooting down Russian missiles or drones that are flying towards a NATO country.
