Czech helicopter unit helping to defend Polish airspace against Russian drone incursions
Last week’s incursion of Russian drones into Polish territory has put NATO on high alert. Secretary-General Mark Rutte on Friday announced the launch of operation Eastern Sentry to bolster the alliances’ eastern flank and France, Germany and the Czech Republic are sending additional aircraft and troops to help guard Polish airspace.
A Czech special operations helicopter unit, equipped with three Mi-171Š aircraft landed in Poland on Sunday to help defend the country against low-flying drones. The three-month-long mission, which involves the deployment of 150 Czech soldiers in the neighbor state, was agreed with the Polish military. Czech Defense Minister Jana Černochová said on Czech Television that the unit’s swift deployment in the neighbor state was made possible due to a valid mandate.
“The troops and helicopters have been sent within the mandate for Czech participation in NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence (EFP) which was put into place following the annexation of Crimea. The Czech ceiling for participation was 2, 000 troops and we have already sent missions to Lithuania, Latvia and Slovakia within this endeavor. That mandate is valid until 2026 and we still have a reserve of 1,600 troops. For the time being we have sent three helicopters and 150 troops to Poland for a period of three months.”
The minister added that if there were additional needs the Czech Republic would be ready to respond. Germany and France have also moved to bolster Poland’s air defense. Two German Eurofighters are currently stationed in Poland, and Berlin has said it will double that number, while France is sending three Rafale jets. The Netherlands and Sweden have pledged additional weapons to strengthen Poland's air defense system.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte on Friday unveiled Eastern Sentry, a new initiative to reinforce defenses along the alliance’s eastern flank.
The Czech Republic is not participating in that operation for the present time. If it were to join, it would need to secure a new mandate from both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. According to the defense minister it is also possible that some form of Czech assistance could be integrated under the existing mission Enhanced Forward Presence.
The main opposition ANO party, which is expected to win October’s general elections, has backed the Czech mission to Poland and voiced support for Warsaw in the wake of the drone attack. ANO deputy chair, Karel Havlíček, said that the violation of Polish airspace must be categorically rejected. If Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty were ever to be activated, member states must act in unity and support one another, Havlíček said.
Meanwhile the ruling centre-right coalition has underscored the need for tougher sanctions against Russia to complement the heightened defense measures and military aid to Ukraine.
The special operations helicopter unit from Náměšť has already operated in Poland in recent years. It assisted in relief efforts during last year’s devastating floods and, at the beginning of 2024, a hundred-strong Czech helicopter unit was deployed in Poland to support allied partners, including Polish special forces in strengthening NATO’s collective defense.
The unit also served in Afghanistan, where between 2009 and 2011 Task Force HIPPO carried out personnel and cargo transport as well as medical evacuations for NATO troops and local security forces.
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