On Monday, 1 December 2025, the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces (SG WP) announced the withdrawal from Polish territory of the Norwegian Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II multirole aircraft (following the earlier withdrawal of the Dutch aircraft as well). In their place, the Netherlands has deployed MIM-104 Patriot air and missile defense systems, as well as NASAMS and a counter-drone system.
Dutch NASAMS / Photos: Rubens Brekelmans via X
“Wing to wing for our shared security. We thank our allies from Norway, who have completed their mission in Poland. The presence of Norwegian F-35 fighters alongside Polish F-16s confirms that the unity and solidarity of the North Atlantic Alliance are not merely declarations but real, coordinated actions in the air.
The joint training significantly increased the level of integration between 4th- and 5th-generation fighters – an important element of advantage on the modern battlefield. The exchange of experience between the crews also helped improve methods of countering Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), strengthening the resilience of the entire defense system.
We also extend our thanks to the Royal Netherlands Air Force, which recently completed its mission in Poland. Your presence and professionalism have made a real contribution to reinforcing NATO’s eastern flank. Takk for tjenesten!” – reads the press statement of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces.
On the same day, the Minister of Defence of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Ruben Brekelmans, announced the start of the planned rotation of Dutch air-defense and counter-drone batteries:
“The Kingdom of the Netherlands is providing Poland with multilayered air defense: Patriots, NASAMS systems, counter-drone systems, and 300 troops. We are protecting the supply lines to Ukraine, defending NATO’s eastern flank, and developing our capabilities. This strengthens the security of Poland, Ukraine, NATO, and the Kingdom of the Netherlands!”
On 29 August of this year, the Ministry of Defence of the Kingdom of the Netherlands announced that Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II multirole aircraft belonging to the Royal Netherlands Air Force (Koninklijke Luchtmacht, KLu) from Volkel Air Base had landed at the 31st Tactical Air Base in Poznań–Krzesiny. They took part in repelling the Russian incursion into Poland using 21 Gerbera drones during the night of 9–10 September.
On 6 October of this year, the first Norwegian F-35As landed at the 31st Base. This was a response to the aforementioned incursion of Russian drones into Poland and the violation of Romanian airspace on 13 September, which led to the activation of NATO’s Eastern Sentry operation and the deployment of forces and assets to Poland by France, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Germany, Denmark, the Czech Republic, and the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Earlier, on 20 August, Dutch Minister of Defence Ruben Brekelmans announced that from 1 December 2025 to 1 June 2026, two MIM-104 Patriot air and missile defense systems, one NASAMS air-defense system, and a counter-drone system would be stationed at the POLLOGHUB logistical and medical hub at Rzeszów–Jasionka International Airport, named after the Ulma Family.
This also provides protection for the NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU) initiative, which operates through the POLLOGHUB hub.
NSATU coordinates and facilitates the training of Ukrainian military personnel and provides military assistance to the country. Military equipment donated to Ukraine by NATO members must reach its destination safely. Air defense enables NSATU to conduct these logistical operations securely.
Recently, the United States has also reinforced Poland’s eastern border by deploying the newest MEROPS (Multispectral Extended Range Optical Sight) counter-drone system.
Skrzydło w skrzydło dla wspólnego bezpieczeństwa.
🇳🇱🤝🇵🇱🤝🇳🇴
Dziękujemy sojusznikom z Norwegii, którzy zakończyli swoją misję w Polsce. Obecność norweskich myśliwców F-35 obok polskich F-16 potwierdza, że jedność i solidarność Sojuszu Północnoatlantyckiego to nie deklaracje, lecz… pic.twitter.com/Nt3sTmlQl9— Sztab Generalny WP (@SztabGenWP) December 1, 2025
The Netherlands is providing layered air defence in Poland: Patriots, NASAMS, counter-drones and 300 troops.
We protect supply lines to Ukraine, defend NATO’s eastern flank, and develop our capabilities.
This strengthens the security of Poland, Ukraine, NATO and Netherlands! pic.twitter.com/Rexd3oWjky
— Ruben Brekelmans (@DefensieMin) December 1, 2025
Bezpieczeństwo na wschodniej flance #NATO to zadanie wszystkich sojuszników. 300 żołnierzy, systemy obrony przeciwlotniczej i przeciwrakietowej Patriot oraz system NASAMS to wkład Królestwa Niderlandów 🤝
Bardzo dziękuję, że już wkrótce, ramię w ramię, będziemy strzec naszych… pic.twitter.com/eLEC3lzCft
— Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz (@KosiniakKamysz) December 1, 2025
