NATO weighs armed drones, loosening restrictions on shooting down Russian aircraft
NATO officials are considering loosening restrictions on engagement rules with Vladimir Putin’s air force. AP
NATO allies are weighing the deployment of armed drones along the Russian border and revising rules on when pilots can engage enemy aircraft, according to a report.
The discussions began with frontline NATO states bordering Russia, supported by the UK and France, and have since expanded to include a broader group within the 32-member alliance, NATO officials told the Financial Times.
Proposals under consideration include equipping surveillance drones that monitor Moscow’s military activity with weapons, and lowering the threshold for pilots patrolling the border to shoot down Russian aircraft. Some countries require pilots to visually confirm a threat before firing, while others allow engagement based on radar data or perceived danger from speed or direction, the report said.
While many officials advocate a stronger NATO posture, others caution that more aggressive measures increase the risk of direct confrontation with Russia, a nuclear power.
The talks also explored additional NATO exercises near Russia’s border, particularly in less monitored or remote areas.
“There are active discussions on these issues, on how to respond to Russia more efficiently and effectively,” a NATO diplomat said.
The discussions come just weeks after President Trump suggested NATO should shoot down any Russian aircraft violating allied airspace. The region has seen a sharp rise in Russian provocations in recent months.
NATO aircraft and Russian drones recently engaged over Polish airspace, marking the first direct confrontation since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Russian drones have also entered Romanian territory, while MiG fighter jets from Moscow flew into Estonian airspace. In response, NATO convened emergency talks last month and launched the Eastern Sentry mission to strengthen air defenses in frontline states.
Unidentified drone activity over airports in Belgium, Denmark, and Germany has caused further disruptions, with some officials attributing these incidents to Russian hybrid warfare tactics.
“When it comes to hybrid or gray-zone activities, including cyber attacks, drone incursions, or sabotage attempts, NATO is working closely with allies to ensure appropriate deterrence and defense measures,” a NATO official said.
The Eastern Sentry mission, the official added, “adds strength and flexibility to our posture along the eastern flank and beyond, and also incorporates new and novel technologies.”
The U.S. is “working every single day” with NATO allies to improve response options against asymmetrical and hybrid threats, U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whittaker said. He emphasized the importance of maintaining “enough rungs on the escalation ladder.”
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