Sweden's Supreme Commander Michael Claesson said Swedish forces might face situations requiring them to shoot down intruding aircraft. He stated pilots would make the final decision about using force.
Recent months saw multiple violations of NATO airspace. Denmark reported drones flying over airports and military installations. Claesson called similar intrusions in Sweden a fully possible development.
He did not rule out shooting down planes violating Swedish airspace. The decision would depend on each situation, he explained.
As a last resort, Sweden could use weapons first to warn aircraft, then to shoot them down. Claesson described the security situation as deteriorated. He said Russian violation risks have increased.
But he does not believe Russia wants war with NATO. The comments come as Sweden recently joined the military alliance after decades of neutrality. This marks a major shift in Nordic security policy.
Military tensions are clearly rising in the Baltic region. Russia appears to be testing NATO's response capabilities through these provocations.