France and NATO have sent reconnaissance aircraft over the Black Sea
The French Air Force and NATO aircraft continue to conduct regular, coordinated reconnaissance missions in the Black Sea region. An E-3F early warning and control aircraft, as well as two A330 MRTT refueling aircraft, were deployed for this latest operation.
Today, an E-3F long-range early warning and control aircraft with the call sign FAF902 departed from the French airbase at Avord heading east.
At the same time, two A330 MRTT refueling aircraft headed for the region. One of them is the French FAF4091, which took off from the Istres base; the other is an aircraft from the NATO Multinational Task Force (MMF26) based in Eindhoven.
This type of aviation group is typically deployed for extended air operations and reconnaissance patrols.
The E-3F AWACS aircraft is used to monitor the air situation and coordinate air operations.
It is equipped with an AN/APY-2 radar system, which allows it to detect and track air targets at distances of several hundred kilometers, as well as monitor the situation over the sea.
The aircraft can quickly transmit the information it gathers to other aircraft and ground command posts, providing a unified picture of the air situation.
The deployment of two A330 MRTTs significantly extends the duration of the aircraft’s presence in the area of operations.
Thanks to in-flight refueling, escort aircraft and the E-3F can remain in the patrol zone longer without returning to base to refuel.
Thus, the coordinated operation of the French AEW&C aircraft and NATO refueling aircraft ensures sustained surveillance of the air and maritime situation in the Black Sea region.
As a reminder, the Bulgarian parliament approved the purchase of seven minehunters from Belgium and the Netherlands. The ships will be used to search for and neutralize naval mines in the Black Sea, which is expected to enhance the safety of navigation in the region.
As a reminder, Bulgaria plans to acquire about ten systems for detecting and destroying drones under the EU’s SAFE loan program following the August 8 incident, when a drone exploded on Bulgarian territory. This was announced by Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov.
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev suspended military support for Kyiv and withdrew the country from the “coalition of the willing” during his first months in office, according to The Guardian. The “Progressive Bulgaria” party won a decisive majority in the April 2026 elections, after which Radev assumed the office of prime minister.
