NATO will step up air defense operations on its eastern side in response to Russia’s dispatch of more than a dozen drones to Polish airspace on Wednesday, prompting the coalition to catch up with the shooting down of the fighter jets.
On Friday, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutt and the U.S. Air Force General. Alexus G. Grynkewichthe Supreme Allied European Commander, announced Operation Oriental Sentinel at a press conference at the headquarters of the Mons Union in Belgium.
“Breakthrough of Polish airspace earlier this week was not an isolated incident, not only affecting Poland,” he said. Grynkewich explain. “While a comprehensive assessment of the incident is underway, NATO is not waiting. We are in action.”
NATO officials said the mission will begin in the next few days and will continue to remain undisclosed.
Some NATO allies have announced the ability to deploy military forces and support the Eastern Sentinel Operations. Denmark will contribute two F-16 jet fighters and a naval frigate specializing in air defense missions. Officials said France will contribute three Dassault Rafale jets and Germany will provide four European typhoon fighters.
NATO forces attacked the Russian drone swarm with Dutch F-35 fighters, Polish F-16 jets, Italian AWACS surveillance aircraft and German Patriot air defense systems. It prompted the Polish government to invoke article 4 of the NATO Treaty, which calls for formal discussions between alliances when Member States are threatened.
NATO officials said this is the first time the alliance faces a potential threat in the airspace. gentlemen. Lat Says to decide on the next step.
“We are a defensive league, not an offensive league,” he said. “But we will defend the beautiful league that was established in 1949 and make sure our 1 billion people stay safe.”
The $500,000 AIM-9 side ball missile was launched to bring out an Iran-built Shahed-136 drone that costs about $20,000 to manufacture, which is a puzzle that must be solved to make the Eastern Sentry Costefictional Operate Opera. Grynkewich explain.
“But when there is a fighter pilot in the air or someone defending the league, I don’t want them to think about how much their weapons cost,” he said. “I want them to defend our citizens.”
