After russian Kh-101 cruise missile explosion near Tarnawa-Kolonia village, Lublin province, Poland nevertheless wondered what was lacking for its interception.
Ultimately cruise missile, which was launched from russian Aerospace Forces strategic bomber, flew 100 km deep into country. And fact it fell in field is only lucky coincidence, as it could just as well have hit residential building in Chełm, Zamość or Lublin, which are in conditional 100-km zone. Moreover, Poland held in air same asset set that Ukraine's Air Forces have.
Read more: Why Did Poland Fail Again to Intercept russian Cruise Missile That Flew 100 km Into Its Airspace?
Polish Armed Forces Operational Commander Ireneusz Nowak reported course of events during briefing, stating that due to forecasted threat against backdrop of large-scale russian combined long-range attack on Ukraine, at 01:59 local time (02:59 Kyiv time) two F-16s were lifted into air from Łask airbase, and subsequently two more MiG-29s from Malbork airbase.
Additionally, Saab 340 AEW early warning aircraft was lifted into air, and to ensure duty duration, Airbus A330 MRTT aerial refueler assigned to NATO took off from NATO airbase in German Cologne.
Polish Air Force tracked threats while still over Ukraine and identified two russian cruise missiles as threatening. One of them at 03:29 local time approached Polish border at distance up to 5 km. At 03:40 another missile was detected, which violated airspace, and already after 5.5 minutes it fell and exploded.
As Ireneusz Nowak stated, he was ready to give order to shoot down this missile. At the same time, this should have been preceded by clear visual threat identification, as Ukrainian MiG-29s operated near Polish border.
At the same time, Polish specialized publication Defense24 points out visual identification was needed because Warsaw did not introduce permanent no-fly zone in eastern regions. It also points out Ukrainian fighters are not equipped with NATO countries' friend-or-foe system, saying there is risk Ukrainian fighter pilot could lose orientation and fly deep into Poland.
But most importantly — in Poland state border protection law norms continue operating, which provide for mandatory target identification before its destruction. Exception is case when violator is combat aircraft that itself begins attack.
Also publication found certain inconsistency in data regarding time and place of missile explosion. In 5.5 minutes russian Kh-101 could not fly 100 km, as this required speed of 1,100 km/h, at cruising speed of approximately 830 km/h. Meaning Polish Air Force noticed enemy cruise missile when it already flew 30 km over Poland.
Thus Polish fighters could initially have been directed to intercept cruise missile noticed at 03:29. And then simply did not manage to approach Kh-101, whose mark appeared already over country territory.
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