An RAF signals intelligence aircraft has been deployed over the Black Sea to monitor the movements of the Russian military across the region. The operation, conducted under the watchful eye of NATO and Russian air defence units, comes as the war in Ukraine shows no signs of abating in the near future.
The plane being used is an RC-135W Rivet Joint, a modified Boeing aircraft, considered to be one of the most technologically sophisticated in the world. Equipped with an array of sensors, its sensors ‘soak up’ electronic emissions from communications, radar and other systems to build a picture of the battlefield for commanders. It is understood that the current mission will see the plane monitor Russian naval activity as well as Russian activity in the occupied territory of Crimea and southern Ukraine.
The deployment is not new, with military surveillance aircraft regularly patrolling the skies along the NATO and Russian border.
On previous missions, Russian fast jets and have been scrambled to intercept and escort planes away from Russian airspace.
But the mission comes amid growing frustration from the US and Russia’s unwillingness to find a peace agreement in Ukraine and following a series of Russian incursions into British and NATO airspace.
Earlier this year, two British Typhoons were scrambled to protect airspace along NATO’s eastern flank after an incursion by a Russian intelligence plane.
The RAF said the Russian aircraft was flying close to NATO airspace. It was escorted by the Typhoons over the Baltic Sea, before handing the operation over to Danish forces.