Patriot Air Defence Systems Start Protecting Poland's Strategic Airport Near Ukrainian Border

German Patriot air defence batteries have begun defending the airspace above Rzeszów airport in Poland, which plays a key role in providing Ukrainian logistics during the war, RMF24 reports.  

The Patriot air defence systems were deployed at the Jasionka airport near Rzeszów, where the US military was previously on duty. This change was officially announced by the defence ministers of Poland and Germany.  

According to German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, two Patriot batteries were deployed to cover the airport, and the mission is expected to last for six months.  

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of Poland Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysh noted that a few days ago, NATO took over control of the airport's security. He expressed gratitude to the US military, which had previously protected the facility.  

Kosiniak-Kamysh called the deployment of the German Patriot an important step for the security of Poland and NATO's eastern flank, noting that Rzeszów Airport remains the main hub for the delivery of humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine, with about 90% of supplies passing through it.  

Since December, Norwegian NASAMS systems have also been used to protect the airport.  

The German Patriot has already been deployed to this mission to protect Polish airspace after an incident in November 2022, when a missile landed in a Polish border village during a massive Russian attack on Ukrainian cities, killing two people.