NATO Defensive Procedure: Intercepting Suspicious Aircraft and Air Escort
The Atlantic Alliance: 'Moscow stops violations, they are escalating'. NATO aims to ensure the integrity, safety and security of its airspace by maintaining a 24/7, 365-day-a-year air policing mission under the supervision of the Allied Air Command. It is a phased procedure
by Andrea Carli
4' min read
Key points
4' min read
The airspace over Europe averages about 35,000 aircraft movements per day, making it one of the busiest airspaces in the world. Any aircraft flying into or approaching NATO European airspace that is not identified, due to loss or intentional failure to communicate with air traffic control, comes under the Atlantic Alliance's lens.
On 9 September, a coordinated wave of drones crossed the Poland penetrating deep into Warsaw, forcing the temporary closure of several airports. A few days later, unidentified aircraft were intercepted over the skies of Romania. On Friday 19, Russian jets in Estonian skies and the take-off of Italian F-35s. On Monday 22 three, four large drones flew over the airport of Copenhagen. Another was spotted at Oslo airport.
Rutte: 'Ready to react if Russian jets pose risks'
"Russia is fully responsible for these actions, which constitute an escalation, risk leading to misjudgements and endanger human lives: they must stop," Nato stressed after the Atlantic Council, convened under Article 4 at the request of Estonia following last Friday's incursion of Russian Migs. "Russia should be in no doubt: NATO and the Allies will employ, in accordance with international law, all military and non-military means necessary to defend themselves and deter all threats from all directions."
Asked whether NATO is prepared to fire at Russian aircraft in the event of a breach, Secretary General Mark Rutte said: "We will always react calmly and decisively because we have all the necessary defensive systems in place to ensure the defence of every inch of allied territory. And, of course, we will always ensure that we react proportionately. But, if necessary, you can be sure that we will do whatever is necessary to defend our cities, our people and our infrastructure. But that does not mean that we will always immediately shoot down an aircraft."
Rutte emphasised that 'decisions on whether to engage with intruder aircraft are made in real time' and take into account 'intent, weaponry and potential risk to allied forces, civilians or infrastructure'.
