They are conducting missions to track Russian movement, which might include listening to soldiers’ phone calls, according to one expert.
They also help reveal the position of Russian warships and submarines
The position of the planes helps show the areas NATO countries are interested in, like Crimea and Kaliningrad.
Sky News analysis of flight tracking data from a typical day in recent weeks shows that a host of NATO and Swedish planes are monitoring key Russian positions
Two US flights departed an airbase in Lithuania.
These planes are designed to intercept electronic communications and can be seen flying back and forth along the Russian border of Kaliningrad
Another aircraft flew for over five hours, circling an area where the Baltic and North Seas meet. Russian vessels were believed to be nearby.
According to Douglas Barrie, a senior fellow for military aerospace at the IISS, the planes are "digital listening posts in the sky"
Flight tracking data shows NATO and Swedish planes are monitoring key Russian positions.
A US aircraft departed from Spain. It turned off its transponder for an hour, but it was picked up again near the position of Russian ships heading into the Mediterranean
The planes are equipped with radar and other devices which allow them to collect signals sent from Russian bases and to intercept communications.
Two planes tracked the coastline of Crimea - one from a US airbase in Sicily and an RAF plane from Waddington
Here’s more details on what NATO spy planes are doing to keep tabs on the Russians 👇 news.sky.com/story/russia-u…
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"We have a growing number of young people in this country who do not subscribe to British values... We see them on the streets of London every Saturday" - @Nigel_Farage
"Are we talking about Muslims here?" - @TrevorPTweets
"Can you imagine how offensive that is a British Muslim?"
Sky's @TrevorPTweets challenges comments made by @Nigel_Farage.
#TrevorPhillips
📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube trib.al/wkmumC6
Sky's @TrevorPTweets asks @Nigel_Farage if "the Reform platform for this election is every problem you face is down to immigrants and, in particular, to Muslims".
Would you want to live forever online? 💻 One technology entrepreneur has made this a reality.
Sky’s Arthi Nachiappan tries out the AI technology which reimagines our relationship with the dead 👇
When his father was diagnosed with cancer, tech entrepreneur Artur Sychov was inspired to create a virtual reality tool which would allow him to live forever online
Artur called it ‘live forever mode’.
It features digital avatars who can simulate a person’s voice, mannerisms and movements after just 30 minutes of the user being observed
Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK
This is what the big social media companies had to say about how they safeguard children on their platforms
Hearings have taken place today at the International Court of Justice, where Israel stands accused of committing genocide in Gaza.
But what is genocide and why is South Africa taking Israel to court? 🧵👇
South Africa is arguing Israel is breaching the UN convention on genocide by "killing Palestinians in Gaza, causing them serious bodily and mental harm, and inflicting on them conditions of life calculated to bring about their physical destruction"
Israel has described the lawsuit as a "despicable and contemptuous exploitation" of the court
Israel said Gazans could flee to this neighbourhood - then it was hit.
Using on-the-ground footage, satellite imagery and mapping software, Sky News found that a building in Deir al Balah was hit on 5 December, one day after Israel told civilians they could flee to the city.
Responding to our findings, the IDF did not deny it was responsible for the blast.
Two independent experts told Sky that the extent of the damage, size of the rubble, lack of burn damage and apparent precision of the strike were consistent with an airstrike, not a misfired rocket.
Without access to the weapon remnants Sky News cannot say for sure who was behind the blast.
Israel has said it was striking military targets in Deir al Balah that day. Sky has not seen any reports of other groups firing rockets in the area at that time.