The incident forced rapid deployment of counter-drone gear after communications faltered.

Unidentified drones disrupted a Dutch airborne unit during NATO’s Falcon Autumn exercises in Poland, prompting concerns over security around the manoeuvres. The Dutch defence ministry said the drones appeared as troops experienced communications problems, affecting the 11th Airborne Brigade as it established a camp at an abandoned airfield. Vehicles with Belarusian number plates were seen nearby shortly beforehand, though any connection remains unconfirmed.

Around 1,800 personnel from the Netherlands, Poland and the United States are taking part in Falcon Autumn, which began on 5 October. The Dutch detachment initially lacked counter-drone systems; equipment was flown in from the Netherlands shortly after the incident. The exercise was adjusted but continued as planned, and the drones eventually left the area. Brigadier General Frank Grandia said there was no immediate danger to troops, adding that the episode was a useful stress test to help Dutch forces adapt to similar conditions.

Polish authorities have not commented. The disruption comes amid heightened vigilance along Poland’s borders after a surge in airspace violations. On the night of 9–10 September, Poland reported around 20 Russian drones entering its airspace, triggering a coordinated response from Polish and NATO air defences. Dutch aircraft were among those scrambled, and several drones were shot down. In the aftermath, NATO allies, including the Netherlands, pledged to bolster their presence in Poland.

Grandia underlined that the drills are intended to deter further Russian aggression and sharpen interoperability among allies. Across Europe, recent reports of drone incursions have also surfaced in Germany, Norway, Denmark and Estonia, adding to pressure on NATO members to harden defences against low-cost, hard-to-detect aerial threats while keeping major training events on track.