SUPREME HEADiLURTLRb -aLLI.Ö) PO' ERb EUROPE Parisy France SH*PE/282/53 13 March 1953 SUBJECT: Rules for Ftagagement of Unidentified Hostile or Suspected Hostile Aircraft by Allied Fighters in the SH*PE ,*rea of Responsibility in Peacetime DECLASSIFIED - PUBLICLY DISCLOSED - PDN(2012)0008 - DÉCLASSIFIÉ - MIS EN LECTURE PUBLIQUE TO Secretary, Standing Group Vashingt^n 25, D. C. 1* NJTO Intelligence gives the Soviets the capability of launching a major surprise air attack against 1 ©stern Europe from bases, that are presently occupied by large numbers of combat aircraft. Should the Soviets be successful in carrying out such an air attack, either with large formations of aircraft or with single aircraft carrying atomic bombs, the results might well be disastrous to NATO efforts to defend V'estern Europe. The existence of this Soviet capability, when evaluated in relation to the effects i t could achieve for the Soviet Union, make i t essential that NATO be prepared to counter such a surprise attack in an effective manner. However, there are no standardized rules governing engagement, nor i s there any agreement between NATO nations as to when and how such rules for engagement should oe applied. 2* I t i s recognized that in peacetime each NATO nation i s responsible for any air defense activity over its. areas of national responsibility* Each NATO nation is thus fIree to conduct armed interception of unidentified aircraft i f i t so desires. Interception of unidentified aircraft is in fact being undertaken within certain areas of SACEUR's command for the purpose of identification only. It i s therefore important that known and standardized rules of engagement be followed by NATO and national forces and that the signals to be used in communicating with the unidentified plane be standardized and widely disseminated, 3. To overcome the present unsatisfactory situation, SHAPE has prepared a proposed, nRules of Engagement of Unidentified Aircraft by Allied fighters," which is attached. Adoption of these procedures by NATO and dissemination, of the "Signals Between Aircraft in Flight" to all nations, including those of the Soviet Bloc, would place NATO as a whole, each individual nation, and SACEUR in a much better position to effectively counter any surprise Soviet air attack» These procedures would not,, of course, be binding after the start of open hostilities. t To be effective in support pf NATO objectives and yet not infringe on national prerogatives i t is considered that the proposed xulls of engagement should become effective under one or more of the following conditions: 11 a . At any time an individual NATO nation may decide to undertake \i r I armed interception of unidentified aircraft in defense of i t s areas of national * responsibility.. b.. Autcmaticelly at the Qeclaration of an alert., c*. At SACEURrS direction *?hen specifically authorized by the Standing Group in circumstances short of a Simple AJb rt, during a period of recognized international tension». AÈ CENTRAL FiLES P A i e CLtiTRAL FILES i 5« It is recommended that the Standing Group approve and obtain each NATO nation's approval of the llRules of Engagement of Unidentified Aircraft by Allied Fighters" as developed in the enclosure. • 6, It i s further recommended that in seeking this national approval, Standing Group, at the same time, seek each nation1 s agreement ; to these rules of engagement being placed in effect under the conditions ; given in paragraph k above« i 7# At such time as the recommendations contained in paragraphs 5 and 6 above have been accomplished, f u l l dissemination of the "Signals Between Aircraft in Flight11 (Annex to Enclosure), should be disseminated 1 to a l l nations as being applicable throughout NATO territories« DECLASSIFIED - PUBLICLY DISCLOSED - PDN(2012)0008 - DÉCLASSIFIÉ - MIS EN LECTURE PUBLIQUE FOR THE SUPREME ALLIED COMMANDER EUROPE; ALjrRËD M. GRUENTHER General, U, S. Army Chief of Staff 1 Encls Rules of Engagement w/ Annex DISTRIBUTION English Standing Group SGLO MOD, Belgium •< Canada it Denmark " France " Greece " ItaOy " Netherlands n Norway " Turkey " United Kingdom SEC DEF United States HICQM, Bonn Gemany CG, US Forcesj Austria SHAPE: ' C/S DCPO PPANDO ENMR SECÏ AG-CR 21 2 3 3 3 2 3 3 5 3 3 2 5 2 2 1 1 2 1 1 2 % French 9 2 3 — 4 3 3 • — 3 j 2 — — i M 1 ' COSiVuU 't0 < ç}t> SUBJECT î ENCLOSURE KO. 1 Rules for Engagement of "Unidentified", "Suspected Hostile" and "Hostile" Aircr-ft by Allied F i*^ters in Peacetime. DEFINITIONS • 1. An "unidentified aircraft" is an aircraft which f l i e s a route over Allied Territory without proper clearance. - DECLASSIFIED - PUBLICLY DISCLOSED - PDN(2012)0008 - DÉCLASSIFIÉ - MIS EN LECTURE PUBLIQUE 2. A "suspected hostile aircraft 1 ' is an aircraft of any type with Russian or Satellite markings or with unidentified, markings, or no markings at a l l , which f l i e s over Allied Territory without proper clear T r i c e . 3. A "hostile aircraft" is any combat type of aircraft intercepted by an Al]ied Fighter which at any time commits a hostile act i . e . , fires on intercepting aircraft, opens bomb bay doors, drops bombs, strafes, drops p-?rrtroops} attempts to. land troons, or which, in the opinion of the intercepting pilot is clearly and persistently maneuvering into an attacking position. 4. For the purpose _pf these instructions, the Allied Territorial Border, will be an aôrial zone 10 miles in depth parallel to, and on the inside of, the Allied Territorial border on the ground. 5The interceotin/7 p i l o t , upon interception of an "unidentified" or "suspected hostile" aircraft; will report his observations to the Ground Controller, With the minimum delay the Ground Controller will instruct the pilot whether or not the apprehension procedure is to continue If affirmative, the procedures described below .will be followed, 6. For an "unidontifled aircraft" will be employed. Series 1 of the Visual Signals (Annex) a. If a response is received and the aircraft is identified, as a civilian or military aircraft of an Allied Nation, Series 3 of the Visual Signals will be employed, and no action \*ill be taken against i t unless: (1) (2) It comes from outside the Allied territorial borders and is proceeding towards, =nd. is less than 20 (twenty) miles ffcom a prohibited -reaj or, It comes from ou.tside the Allied, territorial borders, has •^reached a position more than 20 (twenty) miles inside such \ borders and three or more similar pénétrations are taking ^ place simultaneously (not necessarily in formation). b. In case of (l) or (2) above the ^ircr,-.ft will then be treated -^s a "suspected hostile aircraft". cIf a response is not received or the eircr^ft is not identified as p civilian or military aircraft of an -Ilied nation i t must be treated as a "suspected hostile aircr-ft", 7. A "suspected hostile aircraft" will be ordered to I^nd by the use of Series 2 of the "Visual Signals", F. If the "suspected hostile aircraft" persists in his failure to respond, the interceptor pilot will inform the Sector Controller who may classify the aircraft as "hostile" and direct the interceptor to 2gejf\ire. > e o s M i c T ^ . a v r s E c m 9• A "hostile" aircraft# Intercepting fighter pilots are delegated authority to f i r e at any time during the identification and control procedure that the intercepted aircraft commits a hostile act as defined in Paragraph 3 above, or in a clear case of self defense. DECLASSIFIED - PUBLICLY DISCLOSED - PDN(2012)0008 - DÉCLASSIFIÉ - MIS EN LECTURE PUBLIQUE KQTEj This system ean only be effectively applied in an area containing at the time of the incident: a* Effective Military control of a l l air t r a f f i o ; b. Effective operation of the C&R system. œSMfl^rogSECRET AMCX to Encl to SHATE/2S2/53 ** VISUAL SIGNALS BETWEEI- AIRCRAFT IN FLIGltf SERIES 1 . ORDERS BY FIGHTER "Circle for Identifi cation" VISUAL SIGl1U1L EY FIGHTER ' By Day - Rocks aircraft laterally. DECLASSIFIED - PUBLICLY DISCLOSED - PDN(2012)0008 - DÉCLASSIFIÉ - MIS EN LECTURE PUBLIQUE 13y Nipht - Continuous dots on recognition lights. Given from RIGHT side of and level with, the intercepted aircraft. ACTION BY INTERCEPTED AIRCRiiFT By Day - Starts slow continuous turn to the LEFT at constant height to await identification and further orders. By Night - In addition, i f by night, burns normal navigation and recognition lights. Fighter informs Sector Controller . 4L m "Land at nearest airfield» Fy Day - Rocks aircraft longitudinally. By Night - Alternates dots and dashes on recognition lights By Day - Reduces speed and lowers landing gear. Proceeds to f i r s t available suitable airfield, in gentle dive and lands. By Nirtt - In addition, i f Given from LEFT side of interby night, burns normal cepted aircraft. navigation and recognition lights. Fighter informs Sector Controller• m 3. "You are free to proceed" By Day - Ovcrtckcs on RIGHT By Day - Rooks aircraft side and breaks lr.torally. awcy 180° to the RIGHT at some height By Night - Shows steady as intorccpted airnavigation and recognition craft. lights for 30 seconds. By Night - As for day, but burning ster.dy navigation and . rocognition lights during procedure . Proceeds on course ( i f by ni^ht burning e l l normal navigation lights).