Romania wants to pass a law allowing for shooting down enemy drones

The Romanian Ministry of National Defense has prepared a draft law permitting shooting down drones that violate the country's airspace. Reuters reported on this development. The document submitted for public discussion on Monday sets specific conditions for Romania to control its airspace.

These conditions apply to both manned and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). "Military operations in the Black Sea, the massive increase in the use of UAVs, both military and adapted for military use, continue to pose major risks on the border with Ukraine and near the Romanian border zone," the draft law outlines. The draft law proposes gradual measures, from locating and identifying the aircraft to attempting contact, interception, and warning shots.

Illustrative image

In particular, manned aircraft that fly into a country's airspace without permission can only be destroyed if they launch an attack or react aggressively to an interception. Unmanned aerial vehicles, most often drones, can be destroyed, neutralized, or controlled depending on the level of threat. However, destruction is a last resort measure.

According to the proposed law, allied systems (air defense and fighter aircraft) present in Romania can also participate in any actions under collective defense agreements with NATO and EU members. Russian Shahed-136/Geran-2 attack drones have repeatedly entered Romanian airspace and crashed there. This has been happening over the past year as Russia has been attacking Ukraine's port infrastructure in the Odesa region. In particular, on October 4, fragments of a Russian drone were found in Romania near the Licea Canal, one kilometer from the Sfantu Gheorghe branch of the Danube.

These incidents have forced the Romanian Air Force and NATO air police to raise their fighter jets to monitor the situation during the air raid alert in Ukraine.