NATO Beefs Up AWACS Patrols Over Romania , Black Sea to Monitor Russian Military Activity

NATO has deployed advanced Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft, specifically the Boeing E-3A Sentry, to monitor Russian military operations and enhance Romanian airspace defense. The flights, operating from Greece and the NATO AWACS main base at Geilenkirchen, are a response to repeated violations of Romanian airspace by Russian drones. This deployment, which includes a $270 million E-3A Sentry, is a significant move as it marks a rare commitment of such a capable air reconnaissance platform to the borders of the Russo-Ukrainian War. The AWACS aircraft, capable of detecting aircraft-sized objects at hundreds of kilometers, process various forms of intelligence, including pilot voice intercepts, ground missile launches, and radar emissions. The recent intensified monitoring of NATO s southeastern tier, as evidenced by the Dutch E-3A Sentry s flights over Romania, is unprecedented in peacetime operations. This deployment comes after the United States Air Force ceased reconnaissance missions using Global Hawk surveillance drones over the Black Sea, a move possibly linked to a June 25 telephone conversation between US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov. In the lead-up to potential Russian missile strikes on Ukraine, Russian Air Force planners are reportedly redeploying Tu-95MS strategic bombers at Engels-2 air base, near Saratov. If a NATO AWACS were present during such an attack, its sensors would likely detect every incoming aircraft, drone, and missile. Overall, the deployment of NATO s AWACS aircraft to Romania s eastern tier represents a significant escalation in the alliance s efforts to monitor and respond to Russian military activities in the region.

Source: kyivpost.com
Published on 2024-10-02