US Reconnaissance Aircraft Patrols Over Black Sea
On Monday, a U.S. Air Force reconnaissance aircraft conducted a patrol mission over the Black Sea, according to data from Flightradar24. The Boeing RC-135U Combat Sent departed from the Royal Air Force base in Mildenhall, United Kingdom.
Flight Route and Mission Details
The aircraft flew over the Netherlands, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania before entering Black Sea airspace near the Crimean Peninsula, then returned to its base.
About the Boeing RC-135U Combat Sent
The RC-135U is a specialised electronic reconnaissance plane operated by the U.S. Its main role is to collect and analyse radar and electronic signals from foreign military systems, assisting U.S. and NATO intelligence and countermeasures.
Surveillance Activity Since 2022
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, U.S. and NATO have increased surveillance flights over the Black Sea using aircraft like the RC-135, RQ-4 Global Hawk, and P-8A Poseidon. These missions track Russian military movements around Crimea and the Black Sea.
International Reactions
Though operating in international airspace, these flights are often criticised by Moscow as provocative. However, they remain vital for Western intelligence along NATO’s eastern border.
"Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, U.S. and NATO surveillance flights over the Black Sea region have intensified."
Author's summary: U.S. reconnaissance missions over the Black Sea have increased since 2022, focusing on Russian activity near Crimea, crucial for NATO's intelligence operations despite Russian protests.