The Romanian Ministry of Defense has prepared a bill that would allow drones that violate the country’s airspace to be shot down. The document was presented for public discussion the day before and refers to both manned and unmanned aircraft.
“Military operations in the Black Sea and the massive increase in the use of unmanned aerial vehicles, both military and adapted for military purposes, continue to create serious risks on the border with Ukraine and near the border with Romania,” – they stressed in Bucharest.
The Romanian Ministry of Defense noted that at EU level the search continues for a common approach to drones and other violators of airspace, as well as to “take measures to counteract the risks associated with them”: from establishing the location and identification of the aircraft even to contact attempts, interception and preventive shots.
Under the proposed law, allied air defense systems located in Romania could also participate in any related activities, in accordance with collective defense treaties with NATO and EU members.
“Manned aircraft arriving without permission can only be destroyed if they attack or react aggressively to interception. Unmanned aerial vehicles, typically drones, can be destroyed, neutralized or controlled depending on the threat level. Destruction is the last resort.” – noted in the document.
Recall that in Romania, on the territory bordering Ukraine near the Danube port infrastructure, fragments of attack drones and parts of Ukrainian air defense missiles were repeatedly found.
Previously, kyiv demanded that Bucharest shoot down Russian missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles near its airspace. They stated that Romania is “a shield not only of Ukraine, but also of Europe.” At the same time, NATO emphasizes that it does not see any specific threat against the alliance countries.
As reported EADaily During this month, the Romanian Air Force dispatched F-16 and F-18 fighters several times due to airborne objects that crossed the country’s border from the Black Sea. In all cases, NATO interceptors lost targets without confirming visual contact at any point along the trajectory.
