British fighter jets have flown their first NATO air defence mission over Poland, a move aimed at reinforcing the Alliance’s eastern flank after Russian drones violated Polish airspace.
The Royal Air Force said the Typhoon fighters, operating under NATO’s Eastern Sentry mission, patrolled Polish skies to deter and defend against aerial threats.
Two Typhoon jets took off from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire on Friday night, supported by an RAF Voyager tanker, and returned safely to the United Kingdom early Saturday morning. According to the Ministry of Defence, this sortie marks the RAF’s first operational mission under Eastern Sentry and follows what officials described as “the most significant violation of NATO airspace by President Putin to date” since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Over the past week, Polish authorities reported multiple breaches of NATO airspace, including Russian jets and a drone. In response, Poland invoked Article 4 of the Washington Treaty, prompting urgent consultations among Allies at the North Atlantic Council.
Defence Secretary John Healey underscored the importance of the UK mission, saying, “RAF Typhoons have now flown their first air defence mission over Poland, sending a clear signal: NATO airspace will be defended. I’m proud of the outstanding British pilots and air crew who took part in this successful operation to defend our Allies from reckless Russian aggression.”
Healey linked the operation to history, noting its timing alongside commemorations of the 85th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. “This weekend, as we honour the heroism of the Battle of Britain generation, it is especially poignant that RAF pilots and crew are once again standing shoulder to shoulder with Poland in defence of our shared security – making us secure at home and strong abroad,” he said during a visit to RAF Brize Norton.
Air Chief Marshal Harv Smyth, Chief of the Air Staff, described the mission as a demonstration of Alliance unity. “Our partnership with NATO has never been stronger. This sortie marks the RAF’s first operational mission on Eastern Sentry, reinforcing the UK’s steadfast commitment to NATO and its allies. RAF Typhoons, supported by Voyager air-air refuelling aircraft, joined allies along the eastern flank to bolster NATO’s defence and deterrence. We remain agile, integrated, and ready to project airpower at range.”
The UK has committed over 400 personnel to support the air defence mission, with RAF Voyager aircraft providing mid-air refuelling to extend the reach of Typhoon fighters. Typhoons are equipped with advanced sensors and ASRAAM missiles, designed to detect, monitor, and intercept hostile aerial threats.
The Ministry of Defence emphasized that the mission is part of a broader commitment to NATO’s collective security. British forces continue to contribute across Europe, from the Army’s deployment in Estonia as part of NATO’s Forward Land Forces to air policing missions in Romania and Poland. Over the past 18 months, the RAF has conducted several rotations of Typhoons to protect NATO skies in Eastern Europe.
The government has also framed the Eastern Sentry deployment as part of a wider strategic shift. Officials said the UK is undertaking “the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War,” pledging to raise defence outlays to 2.6 percent of GDP by April 2027. The plan, ministers argue, reflects the need to adapt to what they described as “a new era of threat” exemplified by Russia’s intensifying violations of allied airspace.