European SITREP, 17 FEB 2022
A busy day, not surprising given the ratcheting up of tensions between
NATO and Russia.
An RQ-4 flight, callsign FORTE12, towards Ukraine was
aborted over Romanian airspace. Around the same time, USAF F-16s deployed
to Romania, callsigns WARHAWK and WEASEL, were active. As it
proceeded south, the Global Hawk passed RC-135U HOMER49 heading for the
Black Sea on its first mission of this deployment. Later on, an E-3A, c/s
NATO05 was active in the area.
Also early on, a C-17 over Poland was also apparently
diverted to Germany.
Two RAF Airseekers were active over Poland and Ukraine.
Ukrainian Air Force IL-76 Candid 76697 was visible as
it flew to the Baltic, presumably to pick up armaments.
As anticipated, TC-135W OLIVE27 arrived at Souda Bay.
Another RQ-4 has been active late in the day, and an
RC-135V was pinging at Souda Bay as HOMER51.
It has been reported that
F-35As
of the 388th Fighter Wing at Hill AFB, Utah have been forward deployed to
Spangdahlem, Germany along with six supporting tankers.
ALBM-armed
MiG-31s
Reports compiled from adsb logs