Nowe zagrożenia i uwarunkowania bezpieczeństwa powietrznego

The main thesis of the article comprises the pace of changes and widening range of security conditions that significantly remain ahead of the principles governing systems and alliances functioning, written in conventions and doctrines. Some of these principles were established a long time ago, e.g. the Atlantic Chart. In this situation the questions arises if they are adequate to contemporary and, in particular, to future conditions and threats to national and international security. These threats are defined in the article and divided into traditional and new as well as military and non-military ones. In reference to the contemporary (new) threats, two basic forms of response have been distinguished: prevention activities and reaction to terrorist attacks (acts of terror). In the conclusion the author has raised doubts concerning the conformity of military aviation development directions in relation to contemporary and forecast security threats. The doubts especially refer to so called asymmetrical threats and activities when the range, strength and precision of modem multipurpose aircraft are not useful, for example in case of a small sport plane carrying chemical agents.