A service flight radar tracked a British Air Force reconnaissance aircraft together with two combat aircraft moving near the Black Sea off the Crimean coast. The report notes that the precise origin of the Boeing flight cannot be confirmed, but around 17:30 Moscow time the aircraft was observed circling over Romania before heading eastward.
Earlier, U.S. strategic reconnaissance platforms were noted in the Black Sea region. The information indicates that the RQ-4B Global Hawk drone, with the call sign FORTE11, launched from the NATO naval airbase Sigonella on the Italian island of Sicily on Tuesday, February 7, and by 17:00 Moscow time had begun a pattern of reconnaissance over the Black Sea near the Russian frontier. The drone’s route took it approximately 90 kilometers in a straight line from Sevastopol and about 100 kilometers from Sochi toward the Crimean and Krasnodar territories.
According to the available data, the unmanned aerial vehicle remained over the area for roughly 14 hours, taking off again at 07:30 on Wednesday, February 8. The progression of movements suggests a sustained patrol over the maritime region, with the drone reportedly conducting extended telemetry and surveillance operations along the rim of the Crimean peninsula.
Observers and defense analysts note the recurring pattern of long-duration flights conducted from NATO bases toward the Black Sea, which often coincide with heightened regional tensions and political signaling. The presence of reconnaissance assets in this area underscores the ongoing competition for airspace awareness and intelligence gathering around the Crimean coast and adjacent waters. In similar past operations, analysts have highlighted the strategic importance of gathering high-resolution imagery and electronic signals data to map military dispositions along the perimeter of the region.
In summary, the sequence of events showcases periodic aerial reconnaissance by allied forces in the Black Sea theater, with a combination of manned and unmanned platforms contributing to situational awareness over contested coastal zones. The observations align with a broader pattern of routine intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance activity intended to monitor movements near key maritime routes and border areas. Attribution for the reporting follows the usual practice of documenting radar tracks and flight logs as compiled by service observers and defense tracking networks. (Attribution: service authorities and defense analysts.)