RAF jets deployed to Poland after Russian drone incursion

British fighter jets have completed their first Nato air policing mission over Poland, following a recent series of Russian drone incursions into allied airspace.

The RAF Typhoon jets, supported by a Voyager air-to-air refuelling aircraft, departed RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire on Friday night as part of Nato’s “Eastern Sentry” operation – a mission aimed at reinforcing air defences along the alliance’s eastern flank.

Their patrol focused on the area near Poland’s border with Belarus and Russia, where 19 Russian drones were shot down earlier this month. No hostile activity was reported during the flight.

The deployment came ten days after Russian drones violated Polish airspace, and just days after another Russian drone was intercepted over Romania.

In a stark warning, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said his country was now facing its greatest threat of “open conflict” since the Second World War.

Meanwhile, Estonia also reported that three Russian aircraft had breached its airspace last Friday, remaining for around 12 minutes.

The Typhoon jets, using the call signs “Chaos 1-1” and “Chaos 1-2,” carried out the mission alongside aircraft from other Nato members, including Denmark, France, and Germany.

The RAF aircraft were equipped with advanced infrared-guided short-range air-to-air missiles and sophisticated sensors.

Originally scheduled for a training exercise in the UK, the Voyager crew was reassigned to this Nato mission on Thursday, just one day before departure.

While the Typhoons patrolled the border region, the Voyager circled further inland in a racetrack pattern, ready for a refuelling operation.

More than 400 UK personnel are expected to support Nato’s ongoing air policing efforts across eastern Europe.

Defence Secretary John Healey praised the RAF’s role in the mission, saying British aircrew were “standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Poland in defence of our shared security.”

He added: “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.

“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.”