NATO has confirmed that a French Rafale fighter jet was scrambled from Poland in the first operational response under Eastern Sentry, the Alliance’s new posture along its eastern flank.
According to Supreme Allied Commander Europe, Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, the intercept was triggered by a potential threat from Russian drones.
A Polish helicopter also took part. “The response was fast, and the alert was over quickly,” Grynkewich said, adding that the limited scale of the action was “correct and calibrated to the potential threat perceived, which speaks to the utility of Eastern Sentry.”
Poland’s operational command later stated that no actual violation of airspace occurred during the incident. However, the response came just days after confirmed incursions on 10 September, when Russian uncrewed systems crossed into Polish territory in what Warsaw described as the most serious breach since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Those events prompted Poland to trigger NATO Article 4 consultations, which in turn accelerated the launch of Eastern Sentry.
On the same day as the Rafale scramble, Romania reported that it had intercepted a Russian drone that entered its airspace, underlining the pressure on NATO’s eastern members.
Additional forces are now being positioned under Eastern Sentry. Four German Eurofighters have deployed to a base in northeastern Germany, while Czechia has sent three helicopters to Poland. Denmark has pledged fighter jets and an anti-air warfare frigate. Spain and the UK are expected to announce contributions shortly, and Italy and Sweden have signalled their intent to join.
Grynkewich commended the pace of Allied reinforcement: “I commend Allies for providing these additional capabilities.”
Eastern Sentry is designed as a visible and rapid-reaction layer of NATO’s collective air defence, aimed at deterring further Russian incursions while demonstrating the Alliance’s ability to shield its members on short notice.
The scramble marks an early test of the new posture, less than 24 hours after it was unveiled, and illustrates the heightened risks along NATO’s eastern flank as drone activity intensifies.
It’s beyond me why anyone would think French jets burning cash in Polish air space to shoot down cheap Iranians made drones flying in Poland woukd deter Russia.
This is exactly the kind of weak response Putin wants.
Let’s get NATO jets shooting down drones in Ukrainian air space, let’s grab every tanker leaving the Baltic and inspect its paperwork
that will deter him.
Oh go on then, after you ! 😁
It is more like theatre. I imagine – hope against hope – there is more going on out of sight.
Interesting snippet; President Vladimir Putin’s longtime ally Dmitry Kozak has resigned as Kremlin deputy chief of staff. He opposed the war on Ukraine.
Maybe we are seeing the first cracks in home support for Putin.
Quote ‘UK are expected to announce contributions shortly’.
I thought the RAF commitment was announced on 15th Sept?