Two RAF Typhoon jets have flown their first NATO air defence mission over Poland, in a clear demonstration of allied resolve following a Russian drone incursion earlier this month.
The sortie, carried out as part of Operation Eastern Sentry, saw the aircraft launch from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire on Friday, supported by an RAF Voyager air-to-air refuelling aircraft. Both Typhoons returned safely to the UK early on Saturday.
Response to Russian Provocations
The mission comes in direct response to the 9 September incursion of Russian drones into Polish sovereign airspace, which NATO officials described as the most serious violation of alliance territory since President Putin launched his full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
In recent days, Russian jets and drones have repeatedly crossed NATO borders, prompting stepped-up defensive patrols along the alliance’s eastern flank.
Equipped with advanced sensors and ASRAAM missiles (Advanced Short-Range Air-to-Air Missiles), the RAF Typhoons are capable of detecting, tracking and intercepting hostile aircraft at short notice.
“NATO Airspace Will Be Defended”
Defence Secretary John Healey visited RAF Brize Norton on Monday, meeting some of the more than 400 RAF personnel assigned to the mission.
“RAF Typhoons have now flown their first air defence mission over Poland, sending a clear signal: NATO airspace will be defended,” he said.
Mr Healey praised the professionalism of British aircrews, adding that their presence was a direct response to “reckless Russian aggression”.
Historical Significance
The operation also carries symbolic weight, coinciding with 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,” Mr Healey said.
Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Harv Smyth, reinforced the message, saying the RAF remains “agile, integrated, and ready to project airpower at range”, while highlighting that NATO partnerships have “never been stronger”.
Britain’s Ongoing NATO Role
Operation Eastern Sentry forms part of a wider UK commitment to NATO. The British Army continues to maintain a forward presence in Estonia, while the RAF has carried out regular air policing missions across Europe.
Over the past 18 months, RAF Typhoons have been deployed to both Poland and Romania to protect NATO airspace, underscoring the UK’s leading role in deterring Russian aggression.
