US reconnaissance aircraft patrols over Black Sea

On Monday, a U.S. Air Force reconnaissance aircraft patrolled 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, flying over the Netherlands, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania before entering Black Sea airspace near the Crimean Peninsula, then returning to base.

Boeing RC-135U Combat Sent Details

The RC-135U Combat Sent is a specialised electronic reconnaissance plane used by the U.S. Its mission involves collecting and analysing radar emissions and electronic signals from foreign military systems to support U.S. and NATO intelligence and countermeasure development.

Increased Surveillance Since 2022

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, U.S. and NATO surveillance missions in the Black Sea have increased. These operations often involve aircraft like the RC-135, RQ-4 Global Hawk, and P-8A Poseidon to monitor Russian military movements in Crimea and the surrounding Black Sea region.

Moscow often criticizes these flights, calling them provocative, although they are flown in international airspace.

Despite these protests, such surveillance remains essential for Western intelligence along NATO’s eastern borders.

Author's Summary

The enhanced Western aerial surveillance over the Black Sea plays a crucial role in monitoring Russian military activities, underscoring heightened geopolitical tensions in the region.

Caliber.Az — 2025-11-04