Poland to Allow Military Aircraft to Shoot Down Foreign Planes Beyond Visual Range Based on Radar and Other Information
Xinhua News Agency, Warsaw, September 28 (Reporter Wang Yihan) - Polish Deputy Minister of Defense Cezary Tomczyk stated on the 28th that Poland will adjust the operational procedures for fighter jets and helicopters, allowing the military to decide whether to engage foreign aircraft beyond visual range based on radar detection and other information.
Tomczyk said that previously, the Polish military needed to visually confirm targets before opening fire during peacetime to avoid mistakenly hitting civilian aircraft or allied military planes. With the implementation of the new procedures, pilots or operational commanders can make judgments based on radar readings, whether they have entered a no-fly zone, and information provided by Ukraine, and decide whether to use weapons. This will enable Polish military aircraft to strike targets from a greater distance.
Tomczyk noted that this type of combat authority is usually limited to wartime or states of emergency, and the adjustment of procedures is related to the security threats faced by Poland.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated earlier this month that Russian attacks are increasingly approaching the Polish border, and the possibility of the situation escalating to affect Polish territory cannot be ruled out. The Polish government subsequently announced the strengthening of security measures in the border area with Ukraine and enhanced security measures at border crossings.
Poland will modify its combat procedures for fighter jets and helicopters to permit beyond-visual-range engagement of foreign aircraft based on radar and other intelligence. This change, announced by Deputy Defense Minister Czajkowski on September 28, 2023, is a response to increasing security threats, particularly from Russian attacks near Poland's borders. The new rules will allow pilots to make engagement decisions without visual confirmation, enhancing operational capabilities.
- Poland will allow its military to engage foreign aircraft beyond visual range based on radar data.
- The decision is a response to increasing security threats near its borders.
- Previously, visual confirmation was required before engagement to avoid civilian casualties.
- The new rules will enable Polish aircraft to strike targets from a greater distance.
- This adjustment is linked to the escalating situation involving Russian attacks near Poland.