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The Netherlands will deploy F-35 fighter jets to Poland from September 1 to December 1 as part of a NATO air policing mission over Eastern Europe. The operation aims to ensure the secure delivery of military equipment provided by NATO member states to Ukraine, according to a July 7 statement by Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans.
The Dutch F-35s will operate in coordination with a Norwegian F-35 aviation unit stationed in Poland. The fighters will be on round-the-clock alert as part of NATO’s Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) system, prepared to intercept any potential airspace violations. The deployment was initiated at the request of the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE), NATO’s central command center on the continent.
The mission is designed to deter Russia and protect vital supply routes into Ukraine. According to Brekelmans:
“It is essential that we contribute to the defense of NATO territory and the security of Europe. We are once again doing so with our most advanced capabilities. By deploying these Dutch F-35s to monitor the airspace over Eastern Europe, we are protecting military equipment destined for Ukraine. We can also respond quickly to (imminent) violations of NATO airspace. In this way, we are literally keeping the Russian threat at bay.”
Poland has become a key logistical hub for military aid to Ukraine. Approximately 95% of material assistance flows through the Rzeszów-Jasionka Airport in southeastern Poland, located less than 80 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. In January, Germany deployed Patriot missile batteries to defend the facility, taking over the task from U.S. forces.
Recently, Dutch F-35s were also deployed to Estonia as part of NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission, which lasted from December 2024 through March 2025. During that time, they successfully intercepted Russian aircraft over the Baltic Sea.