Telegraph: NATO mulls easier rules to target Russian jets in alliance airspace

NATO is discussing new rules that could make it easier to shoot down Russian fighter jets that violate the airspace of Alliance countries.

According to The Telegraph, discussions are focused on creating a unified set of guidelines for dealing with hostile aircraft.

Defence officials want Russian planes carrying ground-targeted missiles over NATO airspace to be considered potential targets.

A source familiar with the talks said that the “armament and trajectory” of any aircraft would be the key factors in assessing the threat.

Russia's recently reported airspace violations often coincide with intensified attacks on Ukraine, using NATO borders as unwitting launch corridors for missiles and drones. 

On September 10, an "unprecedented" swarm of up to 21 Russian drones reportedly breached Polish airspace during a barrage on western Ukraine, with debris damaging homes and prompting Polish forces—backed by NATO jets—to shoot down several. This led to the launch of Operation Eastern Sentry, enhancing surveillance and intercepts along the eastern flank.

Over a week later, on September 19, three armed Russian MiG-31 fighters penetrated Estonian airspace for over 12 minutes near the Gulf of Finland, intercepted by Italian F-35s on Baltic Air Policing duty and monitored by Finnish and Swedish jets. NATO condemned it as "reckless" in an emergency North Atlantic Council meeting under Article 4, the second such session in two weeks.

Romania also reported multiple drone overflights; Norway logged three violations in April, July, and August; and a Russian aircraft buzzed a German frigate in the Baltic Sea.

By Khagan Isayev