The U.S. Air Force Resumes High-Altitude Drone Surveillance Over Black Sea.
After a significant hiatus, the U.S. Air Force has recommenced high-altitude reconnaissance missions over the Black Sea. On May 17, 2025, an RQ-4B Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), operating under the callsign FORTE 10, was observed conducting surveillance along the Romanian coastline. The UAV departed from NATO’s Sigonella Air Base in Sicily, a strategic launch point for aerial intelligence missions in the region.
The RQ-4B Global Hawk is a strategic intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) platform capable of monitoring vast territories. It can remain airborne for over 30 hours and is equipped with advanced sensors capable of identifying ground targets with precision.
This mission marks the first U.S. ISR drone activity over the Black Sea since a pause that began after President Donald Trump returned to office. Between 2022 and 2024, such flights were routine, but recent activity had largely been carried out by British and French assets.
In a related development earlier this month, a U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon anti-submarine aircraft was reported operating near Novorossiysk in the eastern Black Sea. The Poseidon, equipped with the AN/APS-137D(V)5 radar system, can detect large naval vessels such as aircraft carriers at distances of up to 450 kilometers.
While Western aircraft operate exclusively in international airspace, Russian forces have repeatedly attempted to intimidate reconnaissance flights, prompting prior incidents and diplomatic tensions. The renewed U.S. activity signals a possible shift in Washington’s approach to Black Sea surveillance.
