Poland scrambled fighter jets and an early warning aircraft, and put its ground air defenses and radar systems on "the highest state" of alert.

Poland and other NATO members sent up fighter jets early on Thursday morning after Russia launched a barrage of overnight attacks on Ukraine

Russian jets violated NATO airspace over Lithuania for 18 seconds during suspected refueling exercise. Nation's president calls it a breach of international law amid tensions.

The new French submarine-launched ballistic missiles provide enhanced range, accuracy and the ability to penetrate defenses.

The missile, named the Mark 1, was developed last year to shoot down enemy drones at short range and is awaiting its debut on the global weapons market. Mr. Salm, chief executive of its manufacturer, Frankenburg Technologies, hopes it will fill a gap in Europe’s air defenses against Russia. “Clearly, we are unprepared,” he said.

For the first time, NATO allowed journalists to witness its annual nuclear exercise, a once-secret event that now serves as both a show of transparency and a message of deterrence toward Russia.

It is the first announcement of the Trump administration’s plans to scale back forces in Europe, where the U.S. has underpinned security since World War II.

BRUSSELS (Reuters) -NATO and US authorities are in close contact about force posture, a NATO official said on Wednesday after Romania's defence ministry said allies were notified of U.S. plans to cut the number of troops stationed on Europe's eastern flank.