Multiple NATO intelligence aircraft fly near Russian borders in Baltic region

Three NATO reconnaissance aircraft have been observed operating near Russia’s Kaliningrad region, a source in European air traffic control services said.

The report said a Beechcraft King Air 350ER conducted a flight over neutral waters of the Baltic Sea near the region’s borders, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

The aircraft reportedly departed from a military base in Estonia and is believed to be used for surveillance and aerial photography. It is currently operating in Lithuanian airspace close to the Russian border.

The agency also reported that a US reconnaissance and targeting aircraft, a Bombardier Challenger 650 Artemis II, took off from an airfield in Constanța, Romania. The aircraft has been repeatedly observed in recent weeks both near Kaliningrad and over neutral waters of the Black Sea.

“At present, it is flying in the Kaliningrad region area, moving towards neutral waters of the Baltic Sea over Lithuania and Poland, which have provided it with their airspace,” the source said.

The same source noted that in April, the aircraft operated over the Black Sea alongside a British strategic reconnaissance Boeing RC-135W Rivet Joint.

A third aircraft, a Swedish Air Force Saab 340B ISR, which took off from a base in Estonia, is also heading towards neutral Baltic Sea waters. According to the source, the aircraft is capable of conducting reconnaissance at ranges of 300–400 kilometres and is currently operating in Lithuanian airspace.

By Vafa Guliyeva