Lithuania’s Defence Ministry is putting forward legislation allowing for a more flexible use of military force against drones.
According to the proposed amendments to the Statute on the Use of Military Force proposed by the ministry, military force could be used against unmanned aircraft in prohibited or restricted areas by decision of the defence minister or an authorised person in cases where they veer into restricted zones.
Under the current regulations, military force may only be used against an aircraft if it poses a real threat to facilities of national importance.
“The aim of the draft legislation is to enable more effective use of military force against unmanned aircraft posing a threat,” according to an explanatory memorandum to the bill.
The amendments were drafted in response to two recent incidents where Russian-made Gerbera drones, one of which was carrying explosives, flew into Lithuanian territory this summer.
The Defence Ministry noted that even if the bill were passed, military force would not be used in all cases. It would be used “only when there is an absolute military necessity to do so, taking all possible precautions to avoid serious consequences for people or property”.
The Transport and Communications Ministry closed part of the country’s airspace on the border with Belarus in August.
The Transport Competence Agency stated at the time that flights in the prohibited areas were possible in exceptional cases with the permission of Lithuania’s chief of defence.
The ban on aircraft flying in part of the border area will remain in force until October 1 and may be extended.
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