By Marta Koblańska, September 22, 12;00 Poland’s time, photo: F16 sky capability – departure up – author of the picture: ArtTower, Pixabay
Poland’s air protection, along with that of eastern EU countries, seems to be gradually becoming less effective, thereby reducing the chances of adequate defense, just in case.
NATO membership involves specific classifications. The most valuable members receive clearly defined measures of protection, along with access to advanced technologies. One of the most sophisticated aspects of this includes airspace defense, which may vary in strength depending on the systems in use within the Alliance. Most members currently rely on modern cyber tools (know-how), although not all do.
The recent drone incidents in Polish territory demonstrate the effectiveness of Poland’s air defense system. However, these drones were disabled before reaching the country’s airspace (were unarmed), and some of them were shot down in accordance with NATO procedures that allow for special measures when there is a potential risk to life. Whether the incident in Wyryki, eastern Poland (or Wytryki, as it was initially reported, central Poland) exemplifies this capability (or the opposite) is debatable. Nonetheless, it raises questions about the capabilities—or lack thereof—of those sending the drones. Some experts suggest that the strike in Wyryki was insufficient for an F-16 bombing, indicating it might have been an issue related to accidental cargo transported by the drones.
In the region of Central and Eastern Europe the space security heavily depends on Europe’s (Brussels) operating systems, along with Dutch technology and priorities. If the US is going to deliver further protection that has been preliminarily emphasized by the US president, it could be crucial for the region, let’s say, future performance. But, unfortunately, the advancement of possible solutions also includes the outcome of the war in Ukraine. Of course, Ukrainians want to align with Poland’s/western systems of sky protection, but now, key decisions can lie in opposite/other hands.
Whether such a connection would be in favor of NATO members in the region (Ukraine’s underpinning of sky protection systems within NATO’s European operations) is also an open question, as the level of security indicates access to critical information within countries constituting the Alliance. That also conditions the adherence of its strict rules, such as, for instance, no ethnical prejudices at any occasion, no revenge on the weaker, along with a civilized approach to women, in general.
I recently witnessed, in the middle of Warsaw, a low pass of a plane that was not an F-16 or a civilian plane. Possibly equipped with one cargo, but not necessarily. The recent Russian two fighters just a few feet above Petrobaltic’s platform, belonging to Poland’s oil champion Orlen, and the jets’ immediate departure up, as well as three fighters in Estonia’s airspace, show Russian pilots’ skills. And this is not in favor of NATO countries in Europe; however, the number of Alliance members and the level of development as such create an advantage at least for the time being. (The fights about the pilots might have preceded the so-called and in silence partnership agreement between NATO and Russia – Russia was the one that wanted to use it for pilots’ training). The air actions show that Russia is not going to give up at least a portion of Ukraine, as the country is consequently realizing its policy there, recently becoming more aggressive on land, but not without reason.
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