Today we tracked the first mission of the Italian Air Force Beechcraft B.350 SPYDR (reg. MM62300) based in Constanta.
The aircraft arrived in Romania on 1 July but has not flown (or at least has not made any traceable flights) since then.
Today, however, around 13.30 CEST for a few minutes we recorded a track of the SPYDR flying towards the Danube Delta.
The aircraft then switched off the ADS-B transponder.
A NATO Boeing E-3A was also operating in the area.
It is not uncommon, indeed it is common, for the SPYDR to operate with the ADS-B transponder switched off and therefore it is difficult to track how many missions it conducts and where.
The Beechcraft 350 SPYDR is a twin-engine turboprop aircraft used by the Italian Air Force for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions. The aircraft is equipped with advanced sensors and systems, including a synthetic aperture radar, a high-definition electro-optical camera, and a signals intelligence system.
The SPYDR is based on the Beechcraft King Air 350 and has been modified to meet the specific requirements of the Italian Air Force. It has a range of over 2,000 nautical miles and can stay airborne for up to 8 hours.
The SPYDR is a valuable asset for the Italian military, providing real-time intelligence and surveillance capabilities that are critical for modern military operations. Its advanced sensors and systems allow it to gather information and provide situational awareness to ground forces and other aircraft, making it an important tool for the Italian Air Force.
