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NATO and UK Surveillance Aircraft Fly Coordinated Black Sea Missions Near Russia
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
British and NATO surveillance aircraft recently conducted simultaneous intelligence-gathering flights on opposite sides of the Black Sea, in what officials describe as routine but deliberate operations intended to reinforce transparency.
According to UK Defence Journal on February 9, a NATO Boeing E-3A Sentry and a Royal Air Force (RAF) RC-135W Rivet Joint aircraft were both observed on long-duration patrols. The NATO platform operated on the western side of the Black Sea, while the British surveillance aircraft flew closer to the eastern sector.
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The RC-135W Rivet Joint, according to the Royal Air Force, is a dedicated signals intelligence platform capable of monitoring a wide range of electronic emissions. Its systems can intercept data from communication networks, radar arrays, and other sources of electromagnetic activity.
Operated by crews trained in signal analysis, the aircraft is able to relay actionable intelligence to military commanders in real time. The RAF currently maintains a fleet of three Rivet Joint aircraft.
Meanwhile, NATO’s E-3A Sentry forms part of the Alliance’s Airborne Early Warning and Control Force (NAEW&CF). The aircraft provides wide-area radar surveillance and command-and-control capabilities on behalf of NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe. NATO operates 14 E-3A aircraft, supported by approximately 1,400 personnel from 19 member nations.
As reported by UK Defence Journal, these flights are intentionally visible and form a regular part of NATO’s surveillance posture. Their transparency is designed to signal continued Alliance presence in the region. Though not a new development, the publication notes that such operations are frequently reported precisely to ensure they remain in the public domain.
Both aircraft types have seen extensive use in recent years across various theaters, including the Middle East and Eastern Europe, as part of ongoing efforts to monitor airspace and support situational awareness across NATO’s eastern flank.
Earlier, the UK Ministry of Defense launched “Atlantic Net,” the first stage of Project CABOT—a new drone-based surveillance network aimed at detecting submarines across the North Atlantic. The system will use contractor-operated autonomous assets under naval oversight to deliver underwater intelligence in real time, with future phases transitioning to fully Royal Navy-operated platforms.
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