Thread by @ameliairheart

Earlier today, at least 14 NATO and Swedish ISR aircraft flew sorties around Ukraine: USAF RQ-4 (FORTE10), RC-135W (JAKE12), MQ-9A (WILEY32), U-2S (BLACK01, BLACK02); US Army RC-12X (2 YANK01), ARTEMIS (BRIO68); 1/10

NATO E-3A (NATO01, NATO02, NATO11); Swedish S102B (SVF622), S100D (C203); RAF RC-135W (RRR7220). 2/10

ISR matrix covering today's flights showing collection coverage of the different types of aircraft. Of note is U-2S BLACK01, which is equipped with a SIGINT collection pod, and MQ-9A WILEY32, which was recorded as flying a 21-hour sortie today. 3/10

I decided to map today's flights at a more limited scope, both to simplify the work required and to focus more on the area around Ukraine. It is likely I will do more if I notice interesting patterns again. 4/10

A few events of note: First, the adjusted RQ-4 track after several days of not seeing any RQ-4 activity. We went from daily flights to none showing, a sharp drop especially considering the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. 5/10

The RQ-4 sorties have apparently moved from the area over the Black Sea to now over Poland. It is interesting that there has been a focus on the western border of Ukraine and the whole of Kaliningrad. I will be interested to see if this continues. 6/10

Second, since the invasion of Ukraine we have seen the ARTEMIS flights move from their usual spot over the eastern border of Poland and Belarus to now over Romania. It is not clear what has prompted this change. 7/10

Third: today, four Russian fighter aircraft flew near Gotland, SE, prompting a deployment of Swedish alert fighters. It is possible this event coincides with the flight of the S100D Airborne Early Warning aircraft.

https://twitter.com/paulmcleary/status/1499100900698251264

8/10

Fourth, it appears that YANK01 encountered an issue during her earlier sortie after only an hour of flying that required her to return to base for 6 hours before taking off again. It is not likely we will hear what happened, but it is interesting nonetheless. 9/10

BRIO68 N488CR #A60693   
NATO01 LX-N90450 #4D03C8   
NATO02 LX-N90452 #4D03CA   
NATO11 LX-N90448 #4D03C6
YANK01 88-00325 #AE515E
YANK01 88-00325 #AE515E
JAKE12 62-4130 #AE01D1
RRR7220 ZZ665 #43C39C
FORTE10 #AE541F
C603 100003 #4A821F
SVF622 102002 #4A81F9
#ADSB
10/10