Polish law change ‘could make it easier to shoot down drones and punish operators’

Polish economic news portal WNP is reporting that a pending law change is expected to make the shooting down of drones and punishment of operators easier than under current legislation.

“Shooting drones will be allowed, their operators will be punished, and the Polish Air Navigation Agency will gain additional funds to manage this segment of air traffic”, the article states.

Poland is currently updating its national Aviation Law Act, with amendments set to be made public as early as December 17.

According to WNP, official services including police, military and border guards “will be able to shoot at a drone (or immobilise it using digital methods) when it threatens or may threaten the life or health of people or animals”.

According to data from the Polish Civil Aviation Authority, as of December 31, 2023, there were 222,086 drone operators registered in Poland. 

“The new regulations assume that there will be penalties for drone flyers who do not follow the rules and, for example, fly into prohibited zones or fly without required reports,” the article continues. “The fines will be linked to the percentage of income earned (by an individual or company).”

Over the course of 2024, Russian-operated drones straying across the border from Ukraine have entered Polish airspace. In July, Prime Minister Donald Tusk proposed that Poland could shoot down such drones over Ukraine before they enter Polish airspace. Such an action, he said, would need the support of NATO and this has not been forthcoming, leading Tusk to announce in November that Poland would only shoot down drones that have crossed the border into Polish airspace.