This morning an US Navy Lockheed EP-3E “Aries II” (157325 left Souda Bay AB to make a new ISR (Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) mission off Libya.
The signal (without exact position) was lost around 12:30 CEST when the aircraft was operating off western Libya.
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.itamilradar.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/dcda8802-2404-46d4-bc73-e309471563c6-1024x576.jpg?resize=1024%2C576&ssl=1)
The Lockheed EP-3 is the signals reconnaissance version of the P-3 Orion, operated by the United States Navy. The aircraft is known by the acronym ARIES, or “Airborne Reconnaissance Integrated Electronic System” .
![Cutaway Thursday: Lockheed EP-3E Aries II | The Lexicans](https://thelexicans.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/ep-3-cutaway.jpg)
(thanks to Sergio Scandura)