UK fighter jets begin air defence mission over Poland amid rising tension

Royal Air Force Typhoon jets have started air-defence patrols over Poland as part of NATO’s Eastern Sentry mission, following recent violations of Polish airspace by Russian drones.

The deployment, supported by tanker aircraft and including partners Denmark, France and Germany, aims to deter further incursions and protect allied skies, UK officials said.

The move comes after what UK authorities described as dangerously escalated drone activity breaching Polish and Romanian airspace, incidents seen as violations of NATO sovereign territory. In response, the UK committed jets from RAF Coningsby with support aircraft from RAF Brize Norton.

Defence Secretary John Healey emphasised that this is not just a “show of strength” but a necessary action to secure NATO airspace and to send a clear message to Moscow. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that such breaches of international law cannot go unanswered. 

The Eastern Sentry mission is NATO’s broader effort to bolster defence along its eastern flank, especially in light of the ongoing war in Ukraine and repeated drone incursions. The UK’s participation is part of a multilateral force including other European allies. 

Analysts say this mission raises the stakes: it shows NATO moving from diplomatic condemnation to active aerial deployment in response to airspace violations. However, risks remain miscalculation, escalations, or further provocations could test how far NATO is willing to go.

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