Drone incursions spur NATO ‘Eastern Sentry’ air defense operation on eastern flank

NATO launched the Eastern Sentry operation on Friday to bolster air and missile defenses along Europe’s eastern flank after Russian drones crossed into Polish airspace this week, an incident NATO chief Mark Rutte called “reckless and unacceptable.” The military activity begins in the coming days with allied assets from Denmark, France, the United Kingdom, Germany and others, Rutte said at NATO headquarters in Brussels, in response to the first known instance of a NATO member shooting down hostile drones since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, according to Reuters reporting.

The move follows Polish and allied intercepts of multiple drones that violated Poland’s airspace early Wednesday, with Warsaw rejecting Moscow’s claim that strikes were aimed only at Ukraine and insisting the incursion was deliberate. U.S. officials told the U.N. Security Council the United States would “defend every inch of NATO territory,” while NATO underscored the operation’s goal: signal resolve and strengthen defense posture along the entire eastern arc from the Baltics to the Black Sea.

Why Eastern Sentry matters

NATO’s top commander, U.S. Air Force Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, said Eastern Sentry is designed to be a flexible, integrated response across the eastern flank—adjusting posture dynamically to keep adversaries off balance and respond to emerging threats in real time. While NATO already fields thousands of troops in Eastern Europe, the alliance did not disclose additional troop numbers tied to the new operation, emphasizing agility over static deployments.

Allied contributions and air assets

Initial contributions include two F-16 fighter jets and a frigate from Denmark, three Rafale fighters from France, and four Eurofighter jets from Germany, augmenting existing air policing and air defense rotations. France separately announced Rafales to help safeguard Polish airspace, while Germany signaled expanded air policing and forward presence measures in the region. These steps complement Poland’s rapid intercepts and debris recovery after several drones were shot down and others crashed across eastern Poland.

What happened in Poland?

Poland and allied NATO aircraft—including F-16s and supporting surveillance and tanker platforms—engaged drones that entered from Tuesday night into early Wednesday, marking a first-of-its-kind kinetic response by a NATO member in the war’s context. Polish leaders called the episode a test of NATO readiness; damage from drone debris was recorded at multiple sites, intensifying calls in Warsaw for tighter air defense integration and accelerated allied support.

Intent and diplomatic fallout

Rutte said NATO is still assessing intent but labeled Russia’s actions “reckless and unacceptable” regardless of motive; Russia claimed strikes targeted Ukraine and denied aiming at Poland. Poland dismissed suggestions the incursions were accidental, pressing its case at the U.N. and drawing allied statements of solidarity, while NATO’s Eastern Sentry aims to deter repeat violations through persistent, adaptive air and maritime presence.

What to watch next

NATO signaled more announcements “in the coming days” as assets flow to the region and patrol patterns are optimized from the Baltic states down to Romania and Bulgaria—roughly 1,000–1,200 miles of contiguous frontline airspace. Officials framed the shift as moving from static defense to flexible deterrence—surging fighters, sensors, and maritime platforms to specific hotspots as threats emerge.

DroneXL’s Take

Eastern Sentry is a tangible test of NATO’s air defense integration against small, fast, low-flying drones that can exploit gaps between radar coverage and national borders. Key questions now: Will NATO standardize counter-UAS tactics and data-sharing across the flank, and will allies surge multi-layer defenses—from fighters and SAMs to EW and mobile counter-drone systems—to meet a threat that can appear and vanish within minutes? The credibility of deterrence will hinge on sustained readiness, clear rules of engagement, and rapid, transparent attribution when airspace is violated. Share perspectives in the comments on how NATO should evolve counter-drone playbooks and sensor networks after Poland’s intercepts.