Poland authorizes wartime rules to shoot down foreign aircraft in its airspace

Poland has authorized its fighter jets and helicopters to shoot down foreign aircraft detected in its airspace under wartime defense measures, as announced by Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk on Monday. This move aims to strengthen defenses for the NATO and EU member. The new rules allow pilots or operations commanders to down aircraft based on radar data or other system information, replacing peacetime standards that required visual confirmation. Tomczyk cited the daily threat of drones entering Polish airspace, with Prime Minister Donald Tusk previously warning of Russian missile and drone attacks on Kyiv's allies. Warsaw, a top NATO defense spender relative to its economy, accuses Moscow of provocations including airspace violations with drones, as the Ukraine war nears its fifth year.