US Navy P-8A Tracks Suspected Russian Vessel Near Gibraltar?

Interesting mission involving a US Navy Boeing P-8A that took off from NAS Sigonella: for over two hours, the American maritime patrol aircraft has been orbiting—at times at low altitude—over the Alboran Sea, near the Strait of Gibraltar.

It’s clearly keeping close watch on a naval vessel.

Given the location, it’s plausible that one of the last remaining Russian ships in the Mediterranean might be operating in the area—possibly preparing to exit the region.

If we had to speculate, the vessel in question could be the Russian spy ship Viktor Leonov, which entered the Mediterranean earlier this month and, as of its last known sighting on April 22, had been operating exclusively in the western Mediterranean.

The position of the Russian ship may not be coincidental, especially as the carrier strike group of the British aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales is entering the Mediterranean via Gibraltar at this very moment.