Bucharest has issued a strict demand to Kyiv to change the operating algorithms of maritime unmanned vehicles. The Acting Minister of Defense of Romania, Radu Miruță, officially requested the Ukrainian side to implement a mechanism that would force drones to automatically self-destruct upon accidentally entering Romanian territorial waters.
Technical solution: self-destruction without an operator
According to Miruță, Bucharest considers it expedient that any drone launched into the Black Sea and manufactured in Ukraine be programmed to explode under any circumstances if it crosses the border of Romanian waters. An official request has already been sent to the Minister of Defense of Ukraine.
The key aspect of the proposal is the full autonomy of the system. Miruță explained that the decision must be made by the device's built-in microprocessor even in the event of a loss of communication with the operator. This eliminates the human factor and guarantees an instant reaction to border violations.
Strengthening air defense after the Galați incident
In addition to issues concerning maritime drones, Romania is actively engaged in strengthening its air defense. The need to enhance protection became particularly relevant following a recent drone incident in the area of the city of Galați.
Bucharest is negotiating with three allied countries regarding the deployment of additional air defense systems on its territory. Negotiations are at an advanced stage, however, the final decision depends on the partners, who need to complete internal procedures to send the equipment.
Furthermore, Romania has asked its partners to provide additional means of detection and surveillance of aerial targets capable of operating effectively at low altitudes.
Context: Ukraine's new line of defense
Against the backdrop of these events, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Kyiv's plans to deploy a new line of defense to protect Odesa and the entire Black Sea region. The basis of this system should be interceptor drones, which makes the issue of the interaction between algorithms and borders particularly acute.
