Germany has withdrawn its final Patriot air defense systems and military personnel from Poland, bringing to an end an 11-month mission to protect a key NATO logistics hub near the Ukrainian border. The operation concluded on Tuesday as planned, Germany’s Ministry of Defence said.
Around 200 soldiers from Germany’s Air and Missile Defence Task Force have left Poland, and the Patriot systems have been transported back to Germany. Berlin stressed that the end of this mission does not signal any reduction in its commitment to defending NATO’s eastern flank or supporting allied countries.
The Netherlands Takes Over Protection of Rzeszów
At the beginning of December, the Netherlands formally assumed command of the air defense mission around Rzeszów-Jasionka Airport. The Dutch contingent comprises about 300 troops and is equipped with Patriot systems, NASAMS air defense systems, and counter-drone capabilities. The change in command is part of NATO’s rotational presence model, designed to ensure continuous protection of a strategically vital site.
Rzeszów-Jasionka Airport handles more than 90% of Western military and humanitarian aid destined for Ukraine, making it one of NATO’s most important logistics nodes in the region.
Germany’s Role in the Mission
Germany deployed two Patriot batteries to Poland in late January 2025. The mission was initially planned to last six months but was extended until the end of the year at the request of the Polish government.
Its importance grew in September, when Russian drones violated Polish airspace, with some reportedly heading toward the Rzeszów area. German media at the time described the situation as a real-world test of allied air defense on NATO territory amid a war taking place just beyond Poland’s eastern border.
Continued German Presence on NATO’s Eastern Flank
The conclusion of the Patriot mission in Poland does not mark a withdrawal of the Bundeswehr from efforts to reinforce NATO’s eastern flank. In early December, Germany redeployed Eurofighter fighter jets along with around 150 personnel to the Malbork air base. This mission is scheduled to run until March 2026.
Berlin has also announced that from April 2026 it will send engineering troops to Poland to support the “Eastern Shield” fortification project along the borders with Belarus and Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave. This non-combat mission, involving around 50 engineers, is planned to continue through the end of 2027.
Another Rotation Planned for 2026
Rzeszów-Jasionka has served as NATO’s main logistics gateway to Ukraine since the start of Russia’s invasion in 2022. Previously, the airport was protected by U.S. Patriot systems until February 2025, after which responsibility passed to Germany. The current Dutch deployment is expected to last until June 2026. NATO has not yet indicated which country will take over the mission after that date.
Source: managerplus.pl
