Romania's Ministry of Defense has introduced a draft law to let its forces intercept and, if needed, shoot down drones and other aircraft that enter Romanian airspace without authorization.
The proposal, now open for public feedback, addresses the increased risk of drones flying near Romania’s border as military activity intensifies in the Black Sea region. This was reported by Reuters.
Step-by-Step Approach to Interception
The draft law outlines a process to deal with unauthorized aircraft.
For manned planes, Romania would first try to establish contact, send warnings, and intercept the aircraft if possible, only using force if it acts aggressively.
For drones, the law would allow military action depending on the level of threat, using destruction as a last option.
The proposal also allows for support from NATO and EU allies, enabling Romanian air defenses to work with international forces present in the country.
Russian drones, especially Shahed-136 types, have repeatedly crossed into Romania over the past year, mainly during attacks on Ukrainian ports in Odesa.
On October 4, debris from a Russian drone was found just one kilometer from the St. George branch of the Danube River, heightening concerns.
Romania’s Air Force and NATO air patrols have regularly deployed jets to monitor and secure airspace near these incidents.
