The Typhoons will help Warsaw counter “aerial threats” from Moscow, London says
The UK will deploy Eurofighter Typhoon jets to patrol Polish airspace after Warsaw accused Russia of a large-scale drone intrusion, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Monday.
The jets will join French Rafales, German Eurofighters, and Danish F-16s in the coming days as part of NATO’s Eastern Sentry operation, the UK government said. Operating from Coningsby airbase in eastern England and supported by Voyager air-to-air refueling tankers, they will monitor “aerial threats from Russia, including drones,” according to the statement.
“These aircraft are not just a show of strength; they are vital in deterring aggression, securing NATO airspace, and protecting our national security and that of our allies,” Starmer said, accusing Russia of “reckless behavior” on the alliance’s eastern flank.
The Czech Republic has already sent three helicopters to Poland, while Spain, Italy, and Sweden have pledged additional support.
Poland claimed that at least 19 Russian drones entered its airspace on September 9, a charge Moscow has denied. Reuters cited an unnamed Polish military official as identifying the UAVs as Gerbera decoy drones often used to saturate Ukraine’s air defenses.
Speaking at the UN Security Council last week, Russian envoy Vassily Nebenzia dismissed the allegations as “unfounded.”
Russia and Belarus are set to conclude their joint Zapad 2025 military exercise on Tuesday, involving about 13,000 troops. Both Moscow and Minsk have rejected Western accusations that the drill is a rehearsal for an invasion, calling them “hysteria.”
Poland launched its Iron Defender 25 drills last month, featuring around 30,000 troops, including soldiers from other NATO member states.
