The Romanian Parliament on Wednesday, the 26th of February, passed a bill allowing the army to shoot down drones that have illegally entered Romanian airspace, based on the threat level and the risks to human life and property, reports Reuters.
Romania, a European Union (EU) and NATO country, shares a 650-kilometre border with Ukraine and has repeatedly been hit by Russian drone fragments as Moscow has carried out attacks on the Kyiv port infrastructure.
Both houses of parliament passed the bill, although many far-right ultra-nationalist politicians, who hold more than a third of the seats, strongly opposed it.
The draft law sets out specific conditions for Romania to control its airspace for both manned and unmanned aircraft.
The measures for manned aircraft are progressive, starting with the location and identification of the aircraft and ending with attempts to communicate, interception and warning shots. They can only be destroyed if they attack or react aggressively to interception.
Unmanned aerial vehicles, most commonly drones, can be destroyed, neutralised or taken over, depending on the threat level. Destruction is a last resort.
Under the proposed law, allied systems present in Romania could also participate in any action under collective defence agreements with NATO and EU Member States.
Romania adopts law on shooting down drones breaching airspace
