The facility is currently protected by Dutch Patriot missile systems France will take over air defense duties at an airport in southeastern Poland that serves as the main gateway for Western military aid to Ukraine. Étienne de Poncins, the French ambassador to Poland, announced on Friday that from January 1, French forces will protect the area around Rzeszów-Jasionka airport, near the Ukrainian border, under a NATO mission. They will replace Dutch troops, whose deployment ends in December. "This will be the first case that French equipment will be used for this purpose," de Poncins said. French air defense systems will operate alongside US-made Patriot batteries, allowing NATO allies to test how effectively the two systems work together. The ambassador did not specify how long the French deployment would last. The airport, located near the city of Rzeszów, has become a crucial logistics hub for Western weapons and supplies heading to Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Dutch Patriot systems currently protect the facility, while Sweden is expected to deploy additional air defense assets in December. In September, Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz confirmed that another NATO ally would replace the Dutch contingent but did not identify the country. This story includes Reuters reporting
