Dutch F-35s Shoot Down Russian Drones over Poland

Dutch F-35 fighter jets, operating alongside Polish aircraft, shot down several Russian drones that entered Polish airspace overnight.

This marks the first time the Netherlands has deployed weapons from its aircraft in defense of NATO territory.

Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said “Polish airspace was violated multiple times.”

Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans said, “Russia is taking more risks, and with that, the threat to NATO territory is increasing. The Netherlands can play a significant role in defending it within NATO, as demonstrated last night with the deployment of our F-35s.”

Additionally, German Patriot missile batteries in Poland were put on high alert, while an Italian surveillance aircraft and a NATO Multinational Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft supported operations.

The incident comes amid heavy Russian strikes on Ukraine, which placed Poland’s Podlaskie, Mazowieckie, and Lublin regions at risk. Poland’s defense ministry said allied air operations have since ceased, but monitoring continues, with Polish forces remaining on alert.

Kosiniak-Kamysz added that he briefed defense ministers from the E5 Group—Britain, France, Germany, Italy—as well as Finland, Sweden, Latvia, and Lithuania.

The escalation followed the European Commission’s allocation of €43.7 billion from the SAFE program to Poland. The funding will bolster air and missile defense, artillery, drones, counter-drone systems, and protection of critical infrastructure. It will also support troop mobility and cybersecurity, reinforcing NATO’s eastern flank.