Three French Rafale fighter jets were on combat alert early on September 14th, 2025, to defend Polish airspace from potential intrusion by Russian drones as part of NATO's Operation "Eastern Sentinel." These Rafale jets, scrambled from an airbase in Poland, represent France's first combat alert deployment under the Eastern Sentry operation, according to a social media post from user Frid45. This action is intended to bolster European airspace defense against perceived Russian threats, with the jets specifically tasked to defend against potential intrusion by Russian one-way attack drones. The deployment highlights France's commitment to "permanent vigilance alongside our allies," as previously stated by the French Air and Space Force Command (CEM_AAE) and the French Armed Forces Staff (EMA). Commentary suggests that some Russian "Shahed" (Geran-2) strike UAVs are being equipped with cameras and radio mesh modems, allowing for manual guidance by an operator to the target. The B version of the Russian Geran-2 (Shahed) strike UAV reportedly features a gimbaled camera and radio communication, enabling direct operator control for reconnaissance, tactical strikes, and engaging moving vehicles, according to a social media post by user GrandpaRoy2. This capability could enhance the effectiveness of these drones in various operational scenarios. Previous reports from September 14th, 2025, detailed the initial deployment of three French Rafale fighter jets to Poland, supported by a French A400M Atlas aircraft, as part of Operation "Eastern Sentinel." This deployment was part of a broader effort to counter ongoing Russian threats and followed Polish President Karol Nawrocki's consent for NATO troop deployments to Poland. Earlier in the day, Ukraine's Air Force had reported repeated launches of Shahed-136/131 shock UAVs from Russian territories, with alerts issued for drone activity in Ukrainian regions.
