While Ukraine's airspace has been largely empty amid the crisis with Russia, a remotely piloted U.S. military vehicle called the RQ-4 Global Hawk has flown over the country in circles for hours at a time.

Over the past month, two of the spy planes have travelled on regular missions from the Mediterranean Sea to Ukraine, where they have navigated in repeated loops in the north and the east, according to Flightradar24.

The drones' high-altitude, long-distance flights have coincided with a military build-up by Russia along the Ukrainian border and a flurry of diplomacy among leaders of the United States, Europe and Russia to avert war.

At times, the two planes - under the call signs Forte10, Forte11 and Forte12 - have been the only active aircraft publicly visible over eastern Ukraine. Aviation watchers have taken note, speculating that the United States is making its presence known in a show of force.

"With these types of flights, leaving the transponder on is a conscious decision," said Ian Petchenik, communications director at Flightradar24.

The U.S. Air Force declined to comment on the details of the flights but said the United States routinely operates aircraft in support of intelligence objectives.

"These missions demonstrate our continued commitment to safety and security in the region," a spokesperson said.

On Monday evening, Forte11 returned to the Mediterranean after a nearly 24-hour trip over Ukraine. Its transponder went off at a low altitude near the Sigonella Naval Air Station in Sicily. It was the 13th similar mission.

According to the Air Force's website, the mission of such aircraft is to collect intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance "to support joint combatant forces in worldwide peacetime, contingency and wartime operations."

Their manufacturer, Northrop Grumman, says the planes see "potential threats" and "gather near-real-time, high-resolution imagery of large areas of land in all types of weather – day or night."

The flight path has stood out because international commercial aviation, out of an abundance of caution, has largely avoided Ukraine airspace, especially in the east along the Russian border.

On Feb. 15, Flightradar24 saidForte11 was its most tracked flight, and then later reported that it had been airborne for more than 21 hours.

The aircraft, with a wingspan of nearly 40 meters and length of 15 meters, can typically fly more than 30 hours.

In 2014, the craft travelled 34.3 hours without refuelling to set a record for the U.S. Air Force, according to its website.

Northrop Grumman has been providing the aircraft to the USAF for 20 years. In August, it won a five-year contract to maintain the craft for NATO.

https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/us-air-force-spy-plane-takes-spotlight-empty-ukraine-airspace-2022-02-22/

iHart:
Interesting. Russia will backoff very soon. All these are just show of force

tsinzu:

Back off from what? Putin has done this many times and he never backs off. Crimea, south ossetia, ingushetia e.t.c once Putin recognized their independence and sent in his troops it's over, Ukraine and Georgia lost them forever. Ukraine should forget about those two regions Putin invaded forever, Putin will never give them back. Donetsk and Donbass are no more part of Ukraine.

dangermouse:


That's what his initial plan was and he might have succeeded?. But He dare not invade Ukraine, as Russia is bound to incur heavy casualties.

Cptflint:

Let Ukrainian soldiers shell donbas again...and u will see what Russia will do them

Cptflint:

Let Ukrainian soldiers shell donbas again...and u will see what Russia will do them

dangermouse:

There has been a cease fire agreement in place which was recently violated by t Pro Russian forces in Donbas.
Russia wants an excuse to invade and Ukraine would not want to give them that opportunity, given that the war would be fought in there homeland with attendant havoc that might follow.
However this would be where NATO forces will come in should the Russians go in.
If Putin has no fear, then let him send his soldiers in.
There would be massive casualties on both sides but Russia would be worst off than when the war started.

Cptflint:


Why do you turn the truth upside down?..its the Ukrainian soldiers that shelled the donbas people following the failed predicted day of Invision. Say the truth and have peace.

Cptflint:


Why do you turn the truth upside down?..its the Ukrainian soldiers that shelled the donbas people following the failed predicted day of Invision. Say the truth and have peace.

kponkedenge:
Russia is fast becoming like North Korea, heavy weaponry and poor masses. Aside Moscow and St Petersburg, there's heavy hunger in Russia.

Putin should be concerned about that, instead of going to war to acquire other countries lands.

tsinzu:

Putin invaded forever, Putin will never give them back