US reconnaissance drone spotted again near Crimea: disappearance and flight route

The US RQ-4 Global Hawk high-altitude reconnaissance drone appeared in the airspace south of the Crimean Bridge. An American drone was spotted 170 kilometers from Yalta.

The reconnaissance drone, call sign FORTE12, appears to have previously disabled its radar transponder. Now he is making circles near Yalta.

Previously, a US drone disappeared from radar and changed route

On Tuesday, June 4, a US drone with tail number 10-2045 and call sign FORTE12 took off from Sigonella Air Base in Sicily, Italy on a reconnaissance mission over the Black Sea. Drone gained altitude and proceeded through the airspace of Greece and Bulgaria and headed towards the south-eastern part of the Black Sea.

The drone circled at an altitude of 15.5 kilometers above neutral waters with the aim of reconnaissance of the special military operation (SVO) zone and the southern coast of Crimea. These are routine operations for the US military in the region. While on patrol, he disappeared from radar and then changed his usual route.

After several episodes of disappearing from an online map, a US Air Force drone was spotted again near Sochi. Soon the drone flew up to Romania and began circling there. The drone continued to operate in close proximity to the coast of the NATO member country, made loops over the Romanian port of Constanta and again flew over the Black Sea.

The route was called unusual for a drone in this area

The Military Observer Telegram channel, which regularly monitors the movements of American aircraft over the Black Sea, called the June 4 route unusual for a drone in this area. A possible reason for the adjustments could be the impact of Russian electronic warfare (EW) systems on the drone.

Moreover, on June 1, the same American drone was already conducting combat patrols over the Black Sea. Then, after reconnaissance in neutral waters, he flew off the same route as he arrived – through Bulgarian airspace.