France will take over air defense responsibility for the Rzeszów-Jasionka airport area in Poland starting January 1, 2027. This is the main aviation hub for Western aid deliveries to Ukraine.
France's Ambassador to Poland, Étienne de Poncins, announced the upcoming mission on November 6, reports Reuters. According to him, French equipment will be used for the first time to protect this area within NATO framework.
French air defense systems will operate jointly with American-made Patriot systems. The ambassador noted that this cooperation will test the compatibility of the two systems.
Currently, the airport is defended by Dutch Patriot systems. In December, Sweden is also expected to deploy its air defense assets.
As Polish agency PAP reminds, the Dutch mission has been extended until December 2026. In September, Polish authorities already announced that responsibility for the airport's protection would then pass to another ally, but the country was not named at that time.
For Ukraine, French participation means the continuation of allied protection for this crucial supply hub. The mission will take place on Polish territory; no transfer of the involved systems to the Ukrainian army has been announced.
It is not yet specified which exact French systems will be sent to the Rzeszów area or how long their mission will last.
Based on: Reuters, PAP / PolskiFR.
Rzeszów–Jasionka Airport terminal in Poland, May 27, 2012. Archive photo: KFG01 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. Photo cropped, resized.
