French ALSR aircraft conducts new surveillance mission over the western Black Sea

A French Air Force Beech King Air 350ER ALSR (Airborne Light Surveillance and Reconnaissance), flying as CMAN26 and registered F-RACH, carried out a new ISR mission over the western sector of the Black Sea earlier today. The aircraft departed from Romania, heading south-east before reaching its assigned surveillance area over international waters.

The Beech King Air 350ER ALSR is one of the French Air Force’s most modern light reconnaissance platforms. Based on the civilian Beechcraft 350ER, the ALSR variant is heavily modified with advanced sensors for intelligence gathering. Its equipment suite typically includes multi-spectral cameras, signals intelligence (SIGINT) systems, and real-time data-link capabilities, allowing it to monitor communications, detect electronic emissions, and collect imagery with high precision.

The ALSR is designed for missions that require long endurance at medium altitude while remaining discreet and cost-effective compared to larger ISR platforms. France regularly deploys these aircraft across Europe and the Mediterranean in support of NATO intelligence-gathering efforts.

Today’s mission followed a standard pattern: after leaving Romanian airspace, CMAN26 flew directly over the Black Sea, remaining at all times in international waters and maintaining a safe distance from the Russian coastline. Once on station, the aircraft performed an extended surveillance leg parallel to the shores of Krasnodar Krai and the approaches to Novorossiysk, one of Russia’s most important naval hubs in the region.

This is part of a broader trend of sustained NATO ISR activity in the Black Sea following recent regional tensions and ongoing military operations. France has been particularly active in the area in recent weeks, frequently deploying both its ALSR fleet and maritime patrol assets as part of coordinated allied efforts to maintain situational awareness along the Alliance’s eastern flank.