NATO-linked reconnaissance aircraft seen over Black Sea again

A surveillance aircraft identified as a Bombardier Challenger 650 Artemis II has once again been observed operating over the Black Sea, according to a source cited by the Russian news agency TASS within European air traffic control circles.

The aircraft reportedly departed from an airfield in Constanța, Romania, and entered the area via the UDROS control point. It is said to have been flying over international waters in the Black Sea without entering the airspace of any coastal state.

According to the same source, the flight followed a route similar to previous missions, including operations conducted alongside a Boeing RC-135W Rivet Joint reconnaissance aircraft operated by the Royal Air Force.

The aircraft has been tracked in the region on multiple occasions, including near Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave, where it reportedly operated over Lithuania and Poland as well as over the Baltic Sea’s international waters.

By Sabina Mammadli