On September 16, 2025, at the Central Polygon of the Polish Air Force in Ustka, the first live-fire test launch of the WISŁA air defense system, based on the MIM-104 Patriot, took place. The operation was conducted by the 37th Air Defense Missile Squadron of the 3rd Warsaw Air Defense Missile Brigade, marking the first time in the world that the Patriot/IBCS configuration was employed outside U.S. territory.
The exercise was held within the framework of the “Żelazny Obrońca 25” federation of maneuvers and will later be integrated into the “Jesienny Ogień” training series. Its main objective was to verify the readiness of the units to carry out operational missions. For this purpose, two WISŁA fire units were deployed in Ustka along with a squadron command post.
The scenario involved the interception of an aerial target simulating a cruise missile at a distance of more than 25 kilometers. The entire system operated under the IBCS command and control network, which enabled the generation of a unified picture of the airspace and authorized launches at different levels of the chain of command.
This launch marked the culmination of the training process in the use of the WISŁA system and the first step toward full unit certification, a key requirement to achieve Full Operational Capability (FOC). In December 2024, the 37th Squadron had already reached Initial Operational Capability (IOC), after completing the first phase of instruction with the IBCS system.
During the training, key procedures were evaluated, such as the identification and classification of aerial objects, threat neutralization, the use of local support resources, and fire management in different operational modes: centralized, decentralized, and autonomous. The exercise also tested the troops’ ability to redeploy, occupy new positions, and secure the protection of critical infrastructure against threats such as ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, drones, and combat aircraft.
Regional context
The launch took place amid growing tension in Eastern Europe. In August 2025, as part of NATO’s Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine Program (NSATU), the Dutch Ministry of Defense deployed two Patriot systems and one NASAMS system in Poland, in order to protect a training center for Ukrainian troops.
In addition, the Netherlands maintains F-35A stealth fighters in the region, integrated into NATO’s air policing mission alongside a Norwegian detachment. These operations are carried out in coordination with the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) and are part of the Alliance’s “quick reaction alert.”
The strengthening of defensive capabilities in Poland reflects the security cooperation between Warsaw and The Hague, consolidated after the signing of a bilateral defense memorandum in July 2025.
Images courtesy of the Polish Armament Agency.
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