A single night changed the rhythm. After Russian drones cut across Poland’s air picture, NATO flipped to Eastern Sentry: QRA goes 24/7, F-16/F-35/Rafale/Eurofighter/Typhoon fly mixed CAPs under AWACS + tankers, and Patriot/IRIS-T/SAMP-T tighten the lower band. Denmark sends 2×F-16 + an AAW frigate, France adds 3 Rafales, Germany boosts 4 Eurofighters and extends QRA, the UK readies Typhoons, Netherlands Patriots face north-east, Italy’s AWACS holds the picture. On the ground, 40,000 Polish troops and fresh M1A2 Abrams anchor the line while the Suwałki Gap is psychologically thickened. This isn’t Article 5—it’s Article-5 discipline, daily: reduce surprise, shorten reaction, prevent escalation.
