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A NATO Bombardier Challenger 650 Artemis II reconnaissance and target acquisition aircraft has been reported operating in the area of Russia's Kaliningrad Region, according to TASS, citing a source in the EU air traffic control services. The aircraft, which took off from an airfield in Constanta, Romania, has been performing flights at an altitude of about 10 km, using the airspace of Poland and Lithuania and areas over the neutral waters of the Baltic Sea.

In a separate report, TASS said a second reconnaissance aircraft, a Boeing RC-135W Rivet Joint operated by the British Air Force, flew near the border of the Kaliningrad Region within a 24-hour period. The aircraft arrived from RAF Waddington, circled several times near the border, and then departed.

Coverage Comparison

All reports on this story come from TASS, the Russian state news agency. The coverage spans several days, with articles dated July 8, July 21, and July 23. Each report cites a source within EU air traffic control services, and the details are consistent across the articles, though each focuses on a different aspect of the activity.

The July 8 article reports that the Bombardier Challenger 650 Artemis II had been flying around the Kaliningrad Region for the second consecutive day, having arrived from its base in Constanta, Romania. It notes that the aircraft completed five circles around the region before returning. The same article also mentions that a Boeing RC-135W Rivet Joint, operated by the British Air Force, flew near the region's border on the same day, marking the second such approach within 24 hours.

The July 21 article states that the same NATO aircraft was navigating in the area, having taken off from Constanta about an hour and a half prior. It describes the aircraft's route along the border with Poland and then along the eastern and northern borders of the Kaliningrad Region.

The July 23 report says the aircraft was again spotted circling around the region at an altitude of nearly 10 km, using Lithuanian and Polish airspace as well as neutral waters over the Baltic Sea. It references the earlier flights on July 7-8 and a similar flight on July 21.

All reports emphasize that air traffic controllers have recorded nearly a dozen similar flights of the Bombardier Challenger 650 Artemis II near the Kaliningrad Region over the past few months.

Key Claims

  • A NATO Bombardier Challenger 650 Artemis II reconnaissance and target acquisition aircraft has been operating in the area of the Kaliningrad Region, arriving from its base in Constanta, Romania, as reported by TASS citing a source in EU air traffic control services.
  • The aircraft has been flying at an altitude of about 10 km, using the airspace of Poland and Lithuania, as well as areas over the neutral waters of the Baltic Sea.
  • The aircraft has been detected circling around the Kaliningrad Region on multiple occasions, including on July 7-8, July 21, and July 23. On July 8, it completed five circles around the region.
  • Air traffic controllers have recorded nearly a dozen similar flights of the Bombardier Challenger 650 Artemis II near the Kaliningrad Region over the past few months.
  • The aircraft has also been observed flying from south to north and back through the airspace of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia, turning near the coast of the Gulf of Finland, but without approaching the border areas of these countries with Russia and Belarus.
  • The aircraft has also performed regular flights over the neutral waters of the Black Sea, moving from west to east and back, without entering the airspace of any country.
  • A Boeing RC-135W Rivet Joint electronic reconnaissance aircraft, operated by the British Air Force, flew near the border of the Kaliningrad Region on July 8. It arrived from RAF Waddington, circled several times near the border, and then departed.
  • The Boeing RC-135W was previously reported to have accompanied the Bombardier Challenger 650 Artemis II on July 7-8, escorting it along some parts of its route.

Perspectives

The reports in TASS describe the activities as 'NATO reconnaissance flights' and quote a source from EU air traffic control services. The source frames the flights as routine but noteworthy, noting that they have occurred nearly a dozen times in recent months. No other perspectives, such as statements from NATO or national governments, are included in the provided material.