NATO has begun deploying its advanced aerial surveillance assets across its eastern flank as part of a new mission dubbed Eastern Sentry to monitor potential Russian threats. Aboard one of NATO’s AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) aircraft flying roughly 10,000 meters above eastern Poland, crew members from several Allied nations kept watch on radar screens for any signs of Russian aircraft violating NATO airspace. The heightened alert follows a recent incident during which two Russian fighters allegedly intruded into Estonian airspace for 12 minutes—a move that sparked immediate concern among European capitals.
The Eastern Sentry mission aims to provide early warning to NATO commanders, allowing more time to respond to potential threats from Russian or Belarusian airspace, which lies close to the stretch of Poland being monitored. These missions—operated by one of NATO’s fourteen centrally owned AWACS planes—are intended to bolster existing defenses in eastern Europe, which have already been significantly strengthened since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Pilots and surveillance operators stressed the importance of the mission in helping to detect incursions early.
During the mission over Poland, the large radar apparatus fitted to the AWACS plane—nicknamed NATO’s “eyes in the sky”—allowed crews to monitor air activity spanning hundreds of kilometers, including areas over southern Sweden and western Ukraine, and stretching into Belarus and Russia’s Kaliningrad region. Radar blips, denoting moving objects, were tracked, and anyone flying suspiciously could be assessed within seconds for threat level. Still, crews noted the limitations of existing detection systems, particularly regarding small, slow objects such as drones, which may not show up clearly on systems optimized for faster, higher-flying aircraft.
Recent drone intrusions and downing over Polish airspace—including one incident involving modern F‑35 jets used to intercept drones—have underscored the evolving nature of aerial threats. According to NATO personnel, while tracking high and fast-flying aircraft remains relatively straightforward, smaller unmanned aerial systems present greater difficulty. These challenges are now part of the calculus in planning and executing missions like Eastern Sentry.
Officials say that Eastern Sentry is as much about deterrence as detection. Its presence—conducting long patrols in border zones—sends a signal to Moscow that NATO is watching closely and is ready to act. With Russian and Belarusian forces lying just beyond NATO’s eastern perimeter, monitoring airspace and reacting sharply to violations is viewed as essential to maintaining peace and preventing escalation. As the Ukraine war continues, NATO’s eastern member states are especially vigilant and strongly supportive of the new surveillance missions.
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