UK’s Typhoon Jets Deployed Over Poland under NATO’s ‘Eastern Sentry’ After Russian Drone Incursions

NATO members have activated a new air-defense posture, “Eastern Sentry”, in response to recent incursions of Russian drones into Polish territory. As part of this operation, the United Kingdom has committed Royal Air Force (RAF) Typhoon fighter jets to patrol the skies above Poland.

The announcement follows reports of around 19 uncrewed Russian aircraft entering Polish airspace during the night of 9-10 September. Poland responded by invoking Article 4 of the North Atlantic Treaty, which triggered consultations among NATO states over collective defense obligations.

The UK-based Typhoon jets will fly air-defence missions from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire, supported in flight by RAF Voyager air-to-air refuelling aircraft from Brize Norton, enabling extended patrol range and readiness. Alongside the RAF contribution, allied forces from Denmark, France, and Germany are also participating in Eastern Sentry.

Defence Secretary John Healey described Eastern Sentry as a demonstration of NATO’s solidarity and resolve, stressing that airspace violations will be countered with coordinated response efforts. He affirmed that the UK’s jets are prepared not just to monitor but, if necessary, to intercept and neutralize aerial threats, including drones, under established rules of engagement.

The mission reflects a shift in NATO strategy towards a more agile and persistent stance along its eastern flank. The surveillance, detection, and interception of drones — particularly small, low-altitude, unmanned aerial systems which are harder to track — pose new challenges. Typhoons supported by aerial refueling enable sustained flight operations, reducing response times to air-space incursions.

Polish officials have welcomed the deployment as a significant reinforcement of their air security. The nation has expressed concern that drone flights near its borders represent not just a breach of territorial sovereignty, but part of broader attempts to test NATO’s boundaries and readiness. Meanwhile, Russian authorities have claimed that some drone incursions were accidental or due to navigational/jamming errors, but those claims have met with scepticism from Polish and NATO sources.

Analysts say Eastern Sentry may become a longer-term permanent or rotational mission, given the increasing prevalence of drone incursions and the growing strategic importance of Eastern Europe amid the war in Ukraine. The UK’s increase in defence spending, due to reach around 2.6% of GDP by April 2027, underpins its capability to contribute to such missions.

As operations begin, NATO will focus on ensuring detection systems are well networked, that coordination between air, ground, and sea assets is seamless, and that escalation protocols remain clear. For now, the deployment of Typhoons over Poland serves as both a deterrent and a demonstration of the alliance’s renewed commitment to defending all members’ airspaces.