Patriot and other air defence systems from Netherlands to start protecting Polish skies in December

Starting in December, the Netherlands will deploy ground-based air defence systems in Poland.

The communiqué of the Dutch Ministry of Defence recalled that Dutch F-35s have been on duty in Poland from 1 September to 1 December and have already seen their first combat use when they shot down Russian drones on the night of 9-10 September.

"Starting in December, the Netherlands will also deploy Patriot and NASAMS systems and anti-drone capabilities to further strengthen air defence and protect a key logistics hub that is important for supporting Ukraine," the statement said, without specifying whether it was referring to the border town of Rzeszów.

German Patriot systems are currently on duty in Rzeszów. Their radars help monitor the airspace during Russian large-scale air attacks against Ukraine.

The media reported that after an unprecedented incursion by two dozen Russian UAVs on the night of 9-10 September, Poland asked its allies for additional air defence systems.