Dutch and Polish fighter jets operated together during massive Russian drone attack on Ukraine
On the night of September 10, Poland’s air defense received international reinforcement. The Polish Ministry of Defense confirmed that F-35 fighters from the Royal Netherlands Air Force were scrambled to protect Polish airspace during the incursion of Russian drones that crossed the border amid a large-scale attack on Ukraine.
+ Poland shoots down Russian drones after unprecedented violation of its airspace
According to the statement, operations were carried out jointly between Polish and Dutch aircraft, in close coordination with radar and ground-based air defense systems. “The operations of Polish and allied aviation related to violations of Polish airspace have ended,” the ministry reported, emphasizing that the armed forces’ readiness remains at full capacity.
Allied mission and protection of NATO’s eastern flank
At the beginning of September, Dutch F-35s began patrolling Polish skies from Krzesiny Air Base, near Poznań, as part of NATO’s mission to strengthen the alliance’s eastern flank.
The main task of these aircraft is to support the protection of Polish airspace and participate in the NSATU program (NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine), contributing to deterring threats from Russia.
Escalation of airspace incursions
The September 10 episode was not the first time Dutch fighters were scrambled. On September 4, two unidentified drones violated Polish airspace and crashed near the village of Lukova. On that occasion, Dutch F-35s also took off to ensure the air defense of the allied country.
Amid the increasing Russian drone incursions against Ukrainian cities, Poland has adopted the practice of regularly scrambling both its own and allied aircraft to prevent aerial targets from crossing the border. On the night of the latest incursion, some of the drones were tracked by radar and destroyed by fighter jets, and the Polish government even ordered a partial closure of its airspace.
❗️Operowanie polskiego i sojuszniczego lotnictwa związane z naruszeniami polskiej przestrzeni powietrznej zakończyło się.
Trwają poszukiwania i lokalizacja miejsc możliwych upadków obiektów, które naruszyły polska przestrzeń powietrzną.
Mając na uwadze bezpieczeństwo obywateli… pic.twitter.com/28DxKjfF6W
— Dowództwo Operacyjne RSZ (@DowOperSZ) September 10, 2025
Source and images: Militarnyi | X @DowOperSZ | NATO. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
