Another extensive FORTE10 mission across Northern Europe

A new long-range surveillance mission for the USAF RQ-4B Global Hawk (registration 11-2046, callsign FORTE10) operating out of Sigonella. After leaving Sicily yesterday evening, the drone headed north, following its now-familiar corridor through Central Europe before reaching the Baltic region.

Once over northern Europe, FORTE10 continued further east than usual, flying past the Gulf of Bothnia and pushing deep into the airspace over Sweden and Finland’s eastern approaches. The aircraft then performed an extended surveillance pattern west of Russia, in an area routinely monitored by NATO assets due to its strategic relevance.

The Global Hawk is now tracking southbound, retracing its route through Central Europe on its way back to Sigonella. This marks yet another long-endurance ISR mission over the northern flank, underlining the continuous U.S. and NATO interest in monitoring movements around Russia’s western borders.