Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk said on the 28th Poland will revise
fighter and helicopter engagement procedures to permit commanders to order
beyond-visual-range shoot-downs of foreign aircraft based on radar detections
and other information. Previously in peacetime crews had to visually confirm
targets to avoid striking civilian or allied aircraft; under the new rules
pilots or commanders may integrate radar returns, no‑fly‑zone entry and
information provided by Ukraine to decide whether to use weapons, enabling
engagements from greater distance. Tomczyk said such authorities are normally
limited to wartime or martial law and that the change is linked to Poland's
current security threat environment.
