Norwegian F-35s, Australian AWACS to Bolster Polish Defense

Referring to an increase in violations of airspace through NATO, especially in the Baltic, Kosiniak-Kamysz stressed the importance of allied cooperation. “All the more… this type of allied reinforcement is needed,” he said.

The Lockheed Martin F-35 is a state-of-the-art military aircraft, a multirole fighter plane, developed for both air superiority and attack roles.

Australian Surveillance Aircraft & Defence Assistance To Germans
Kosiniak-Kamysz has also said that Poland is to receive an Australian AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) soon. The fighter jets are fitted with onboard radar and surveillance equipment that allows real-time intelligence gathering. The deployment comes after an announced deal yesterday with Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles.

Germany, for its part, has committed to maintain its Patriot air defense systems at Rzeszów-Jasionka Airport in southeastern Poland until at least 2025. “This is a NATO mission and Germany is within its commitments to the alliance,” the Polish minister said.

Joint Drills and Focus on Regional Security
Poland is also getting ready for major division-level military exercises in September, called Operation Iron Defender. The 18th Division has not attended the event for many years. The United States, Turkey, Finland, Canada, and Slovakia have all secured their place in the event.

The drills will run parallel to Russian exercises taking place in Belarus, a Polish minister said it would be a critical moment to show NATO’s strength and Poland’s defense readiness.

Kosiniak-Kamysz also met defense ministers of France, Germany, Italy, and the UK. Topics included joint support for Ukraine and the recent happenings in the Middle East,” said France’s Sébastien Lecornu.