Eastern Sentry
Operation Eastern Sentry is a NATO operation to protect territory along NATO's eastern flank. It is the Alliance's response to a declaration under Article 4 by the Polish government in reaction to the incursion of a Russian drone into Poland on September 9 and 10, 2025. Operation Eastern Sentry was launched two days later, on September 12, 2025, with no end date. The main objective of the operation is to increase NATO's capacity to counter Russian military threats, in particular to intercept Russian drones violating the airspace of NATO member states. Whereas previously this responsibility fell to each member state, Eastern Sentry established a collective policy and conduct for air defense on NATO's eastern flank.
On September 12, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) General Alexus G. Grynkewich announced the launch of Operation Eastern Sentry in response to the violation of allied airspace by Russian drones two days earlier. According to General Grynkewich, “Operation Eastern Sentry will provide even more focused and flexible deterrence and defense, wherever and whenever necessary to protect our population and deter further reckless and dangerous acts.”
The airspace over Europe sees an average of about 30,000 air movements per day, making it one of the busiest airspaces in the world. Any aircraft flying inside or approaching European NATO airspace that are unidentified, either through loss or intentional omission of communication with Air Traffic Control creates an unsafe environment, which could lead to an air incident.
NATO ensures the integrity, safety and security of its airspace by maintaining a 24/7/365 Air Policing mission, overseen by Allied Air Command.
The Combined Air Operations Centre Torrejón is located at Torrejón Air Force Base, northeast of Madrid, Spain. Its primary mission is to plan, direct, coordinate, monitor, analyse and report on the operations of Air Policing means assigned to it in peace time. The unit’s area of responsibility comprises European NATO airspace south of the Alps. Hence Combined Air Operations Centre Torrejón is responsible for some of NATO’s special Air Policing arrangements, such as Air Policing over Romania and Bulgaria, Air Policing over Slovenia and Air Policing over Montenegro.
The Spanish Armed Forces are a regular contributor to NATO's Air Policing. In addition to patrolling national airspace under NATO's Combined Air Operations Centre (CAOC) Torrejón,Spain contributes to the Bulgaria-Romania eAP with human and material resources.
‘Persistent Effort’ operation includes the UDAA NASAMS in Latvia, the Patriot battery in Türkiye and the ‘Tigru’ Detachment (also in Romania) - with the radar of the Mobile Air Control Group (GRUMOCA) - also deployed on the shores of the Black Sea, in Romania.
2025
- August 12tH. Starts the mission
NOTAS DE PRENSA DEL EMAD ACERCA DE LA POLICÍA AÉREA SOBRE BULGARIA
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The Vilkas Tactical Air Detachment faces the final stretch of its mission
The Vilkas Tactical Air Detachment faces the final stretch of its mission
2026/03/05Šiauliai, Lithuania
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Activation of Spanish DAT “Vilkas” fighter jets in Operation Eastern Sentinel in Poland
Activation of Spanish DAT “Vilkas” fighter jets in Operation Eastern Sentinel in Poland
2025/11/20In Lithuania
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First air policing mission for Spanish tanker aircraft and Eurofighters in Operation Eastern Sentry
First air policing mission for Spanish tanker aircraft and Eurofighters in Operation Eastern Sentry
2025/11/03In Lithuania
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Spanish aircraft join NATO's “Eastern Sentry” operation
Spanish aircraft join NATO's “Eastern Sentry” operation
2025/10/22In Siauliai, Lithuania
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