Dutch F-35s Used In NATO Downing Of Russian Drones Over Poland

Royal Netherlands Air Force F-35s shot down Russian drones as part of a NATO mission to help protect Polish air space, according to Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans. The incident marks the first time a European F-35 operator used the aircraft to down a target in anger.

NATO forces downed a number of Russian drones in the latest incident when the uncrewed systems crossed into alliance air space. Polish Air Force F-16s were reportedly involved in the operation as well. 

“We are most likely facing a large-scale provocation,” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Sept. 10 on social media. “This is the first time Russian drones have been shot down over NATO territory. All our allies treat this situation with the utmost seriousness.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the first Russian drones crossed from Ukraine's airspace into Poland's around 50 minutes after midnight local time. At least two other drones crossed into Poland from airspace in Russian ally Belarus, he added.

“In total, at least several dozen Russian drones were moving along the border of Ukraine and Belarus and across western regions of Ukraine, approaching targets on Ukrainian territory and, apparently, on Polish territory,” Zelenskyy said. “Around two dozen Russian drones may have entered Polish airspace during the night.”

Tusk said there were 19 violations, with the military saying three drones were downed.

Ukraine itself shot down more than 380 Russian drones overnight, the president added. “Ukraine is ready to expand our cooperation with partners for reliable protection of the sky. So that we have not only information and intelligence data sharing, but also real joint actions that guarantee security of the neighbors,” he said.

Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovilė Šakalienė echoed the sentiment, saying it was time "to transform air police into air defense."

Tusk thanked NATO allies for their support in downing the drones.

Dutch F-35s have been part of the NATO air policing mission along the alliance's eastern flank since September. “This is how we keep the escalating Russian threat at a distance,” Brekelmans said Sept. 10.

NATO said German Patriot air and missile defense systems in Poland were also put on alert, with the Italian Air Force's Gulfstream G550 airborne early warning aircraft and an airborne tanker also involved.