News item | 10-09-2025 | 12:20
Polish and Dutch fighter aircraft last night above Poland Russian drones. The unmanned aircraft had invaded the NATO air space.
In NATO context, Polish and Dutch combat aircraft rose to remove potential threats for alliance territory. Several Russian drones had flown in Polish airspace. NATO acted quickly and decisively. This was done by, among other things, having Polish and Dutch combat aircraft use weapons against these drones. Then several were brought down.
According to Minister of Defense Ruben Brekelmans, the Russian threat not only limits itself to Ukraine, but it is also a broader threat to Europe. “Russia is taking more risks and with that the threat to the NATO territory is increasing. The Netherlands can play an important role in NATO context in the defense, as has been shown last night with the use of our F-35s. I am proud of the adequate and professional reaction of our pilots.”
However, the Netherlands and Poland were not the only countries that responded. German Patriot racing systems in Poland were brought in a state of readiness. Furthermore, an Italian air warning aircraft and a aircraft of the multinational multi-role tanker transport (MRTT) fleet of the Alliance has been used to supply the combat aircraft in the air with fuel.
With this deployment, NATO shows capacity and determination to defend the alliance territory.
Dutch F-35s in Poland
The Netherlands has been supplying F-35 devices since 1 September to help protect the NATO treaty area. It is not the first time that Dutch F-35s have taken off in Poland for Russian projectiles that threatened the NATO treaty area. The Netherlands has now used weapons for the first time.