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NATO recon aircraft again shuttling over Black Sea from west to east, back
A NATO Bombardier Challenger 650 Artemis II reconnaissance aircraft has been repeatedly detected over neutral waters in the southern Black Sea, flying from west to east and back without entering any country's airspace, according to a source in EU air traffic control circles. The aircraft, operating from Constanta, Romania, has been observed on multiple occasions over the past month, including a recent unusually short flight.
A NATO Bombardier Challenger 650 Artemis II reconnaissance and target acquisition aircraft has again been spotted over neutral waters in the southern Black Sea, where it was observed shuttling from west to east and back, a source in EU air traffic control services told TASS. The aircraft did not enter the airspace of any country, the source said.
Coverage Comparison
Two reports from TASS, dated July 9 and July 20, describe similar activity by the same type of aircraft. In the July 9 report, the aircraft was identified over neutral waters in the southern Black Sea, flying from west to east and back. In the July 20 report, the aircraft was again spotted over Black Sea neutral waters, repeating the same route. The two reports provide slightly differing details on the aircraft's altitude: the July 9 report gives about 10.5 kilometers, while the July 20 report states just over 9.7 kilometers. Both reports note that the aircraft operated outside civil aviation corridors or routes.
Key Claims
A NATO Bombardier Challenger 650 Artemis II reconnaissance aircraft was identified over neutral waters in the southern Black Sea, flying from west to east and back without entering any country's airspace, as reported by TASS.
The aircraft departed from an airfield in Constanta, Romania, and flew through flight areas controlled by Romanian and Bulgarian air traffic controllers, according to the source cited by TASS.
The July 9 report described the aircraft operating at an altitude of about 10.5 kilometers outside civil aviation corridors; the July 20 report stated the altitude was just over 9.7 kilometers outside established civil aviation routes.
The same aircraft had previously been observed circling near Russia's Kaliningrad Region for two consecutive days, using Lithuanian and Polish airspace and sectors over Baltic Sea neutral waters, as reported in the July 9 TASS article.
A Boeing RC-135W Rivet Joint electronic reconnaissance aircraft belonging to the British Air Force was detected near the border of the Kaliningrad Region, having flown in from RAF Waddington for several surveillance flights, according to the same source.
The July 20 report noted that the aircraft had performed an unusually short flight over neutral waters in the western Black Sea, lasting about 40 minutes, before resuming its typical route.
Additionally, a NATO RQ-4D Phoenix strategic reconnaissance drone, taking off from Naval Air Station Sigonella in Sicily, was detected flying over the Black Sea for the first time in nearly three months, according to the source.
Context
The source in EU air traffic control circles noted that Bombardier Challenger 650 Artemis II flights over the Black Sea have been observed on multiple occasions over the past month, and several times even on weekends, which was rarely the case before. This ongoing pattern of reconnaissance activity reflects increased NATO military presence in the region, as described in the TASS reports.
How this outlet told it
TASS — English
Framing: NATO reconnaissance activity in the Black Sea — Informative
Facts Included:
NATO Bombardier Challenger 650 Artemis II reconnaissance aircraft identified over neutral waters in the southern Black Sea
Aircraft flying from west to east and back without entering any country's airspace
Aircraft departed from Constanta, Romania and flew through Romanian and Bulgarian air traffic controlled areas
Aircraft operating at an altitude of about 10.5 kilometers outside civil aviation corridors
Same aircraft previously circled near Russia's Kaliningrad Region
Boeing RC-135W Rivet Joint electronic reconnaissance aircraft detected near Kaliningrad Region border
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Claim
Confidence
Status
ClaimA NATO Bombardier Challenger 650 Artemis II reconnaissance aircraft has been identified over neutral waters in the southern Black Sea.
ClaimThe aircraft departed from an airfield in Constanta, Romania, and then flew through flight areas controlled by Romanian and Bulgarian air traffic controllers.
ClaimThe reconnaissance aircraft performed an unusually short flight over neutral waters in the west part of the Black Sea that lasted about 40 minutes.