French and British military forces recently executed a high-profile aerial operation over the western Black Sea, demonstrating their coordinated surveillance and air superiority amid growing regional tensions.
The large-scale mission highlighted both nations’ commitment to maintaining a strategic presence in the region.
The operation featured a range of aircraft from both countries working together to monitor Russian military activity. French Rafale fighter jets and an E-2 Hawkeye airborne early warning aircraft, launched from the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, participated alongside Royal Air Force Typhoon fighters.
The operation also included a Rivet Joint RC-135 signals intelligence platform and aerial tanker support from both nations.
In addition to these assets, a French E-3 Sentry airborne warning and control aircraft was deployed, enhancing operational coordination and extending the surveillance range across the maritime region.
Flight tracking data indicated that multiple aerial refueling tankers supported the operation, ensuring that fighter escorts and surveillance platforms remained on station for extended periods. This extended capability further underlined the mission’s scope and complexity.
After completing the mission, the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle made a routine port call in Piraeus, Greece, continuing its regional deployment. The carrier’s presence in the eastern Mediterranean reflects France’s ongoing commitment to regional stability and NATO’s readiness.
The scale and joint nature of this operation underscore the intent of both France and the United Kingdom to exert continued pressure on Russia through persistent surveillance and deterrence operations in the Black Sea region.
