French Rafale Fighters in Poland Test NATO Airpower Survival Against Missile and Drone Attacks

French Rafale fighters dispersed across Polish locations in a NATO drill focused on preserving combat airpower during missile and drone attacks on established bases. The exercise tested rapid movement, operations from alternate sites, support by small teams and continued command and logistics under threat and disrupted communications. Practicing this posture reduces the vulnerability created by concentrating aircraft, fuel and weapons at a few known airfields, while strengthening France’s ability to reinforce the eastern flank and operate with Polish and allied forces in a contested environment.