The aircraft were deployed to eastern Poland after indications of a possible violation of Polish airspace by Russian drones, triggering air raid sirens in Chełm, a city near the Ukrainian border.
According to RMF FM, allied radar systems detected a potential threat over the Lublin region in eastern Poland, and the Rafale pilots were able to assess the risk directly from their cockpits. In the event of a real danger, the aircraft were prepared to shoot down any drones.
No breach of airspace was ultimately confirmed. The radar signals were thought to have been caused by meteorological phenomena that were misinterpreted as flying objects.
The mission comes after a series of drone incursions on the night of 9–10 September, when Polish airspace was repeatedly violated. Drones posing a direct threat were shot down by Polish and allied aircraft.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced on Friday the launch of Operation Eastern Sentry, which will deploy Danish F-16s, French Rafales, and German Eurofighters to strengthen the alliance’s eastern flank.
(mp)
Source: RMF FM/Onet.pl/PR24