NATO holds unprecedented air drills near Kaliningrad in Poland, US F-35s participate

Published Aug 20, 05:30 PM UTC

On August 18, 2026, NATO conducted unprecedented air exercises in Polish airspace near the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, with significant US participation. According to Artur Kacprzyk, an expert from the Polish Institute of International Affairs (PISM), the maneuvers served both operational and deterrence purposes. They demonstrated NATO's ability to mass substantial air forces near Russia, highlighting the vulnerability of Kaliningrad in a conflict. The US involvement, including F-35 fighters, electronic warfare aircraft, and refueling planes, sends a political signal of commitment despite recent reductions in US troop presence in Europe and transatlantic tensions. The exercises align with the NATO 3.0 concept, where Europeans provide initial combat forces while the US supplies critical support like reconnaissance and aerial refueling, with the option to escalate if needed.