According to British defense minister John Healey, the operation follows multiple violations of NATO airspace by Russian drones and aircraft over the past month, in Poland, Romania and Estonia, among others.
“This was a comprehensive joint mission with our allies, the US and NATO,” Healey said. According to the defense minister, the mission not only provides valuable intelligence, but is also a “powerful signal from NATO unit to Russian President Vladimir Putin.”
The mission involved three aircraft. An RC-135 Rivet Joint surveillance aircraft and a P-8A Poseidon patrol aircraft flew from the Arctic past Belarus and Ukraine. They were supported by a US Air Force KC-135 tanker aircraft.
The aircraft were working with NATO allies across Europe, according to the British Ministry of Defense. It is not yet known if the Netherlands was also involved in the mission.
A month ago, NATO announced it was beefing up defenses in eastern member states in response to Russia’s violation of Polish airspace. The operation, called Eastern Sentry, will take place on the ground and in the air and is primarily aimed at intercepting drones.
