Bundeswehr to withdraw Patriot air defence systems from Poland

Bundeswehr (German Armed Forces) will withdraw its Patriot air defence systems from Poland in the coming days.

The mission within NATO air defence was officially handed over to the Dutch forces on December 10, after almost a year, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

The central task of the deployment was the protection of the transport hub in Rzeszów near the Ukrainian border, with around 200 German service members operating the systems.

Two fire units of the Patriot system were reportedly involved in the operation. It is used to intercept ballistic missiles, manned and unmanned aircraft, and cruise missiles.

"The mission gained special significance in early September when several Russian drones violated Polish airspace and were partially intercepted," the Air Force stated.

Germany and NATO deployed Patriot air‑defence systems to Poland early in 2025 to protect critical logistics infrastructure supporting Ukraine, with the stated aim of securing NATO airspace and supply routes near the Ukrainian border.

Details reported that German Patriots were sent to safeguard the Rzeszów‑Jasionka hub, where the bulk of Western military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine passes through, reflecting NATO’s effort to strengthen its eastern flank amid ongoing Russian threats.

The deployment is part of NATO’s Integrated Air and Missile Defence architecture, a continuous mission to detect and counter aerial threats against Allied territory from missile strikes to aircraft and drones, reinforcing collective defence and deterrence.

By Jeyhun Aghazada