Global Hawk

[C24]

Are these cleared for use in uk airspace?
If yes, then why not base them at RAF Fairford?
I am curious because if the one currently over Europe came from Greece, what countries did it route over?

[martmpf]

Based in Sigonella, Sicily, Italy and have been for quite a while now. Often seen over Ukraine.
See: viewtopic.php?f=342&t=159813

[acw367]

It previously has transited over UK with CAA permission. It needs specific CAA authorisation in line with CAP 722 https://publicapps.caa.co.uk/modalappli ... ail&id=415
and a NOTAM in order to fly in the UK FIR inside Segregated Airspace.

[Mavke]

A few MQ-4C Triton Aircraft wil also be based at Sigonnella , Same for the AGS , NATO's Global hawks, These should be Equipped with ADSB and TCAS , that means it should be able to fly anywhere in Europian airspace ... ( as far as i know .. )

[C24]

Thank you for the background info, gents, most interesting.

I picked it up again transiting west over the Ionian Sea, 280kts at 50000' and 18.5hrs flight time.
The track shown was due south from the Lithuanian/Polish, into Ukraine at the road (Rzeszow-Lviv) crossing, Romainia, Bulgaria out to sea over Greece then due west towards its base in Sicily. Probably a total flight time of 20hrs.

Posted as a feeble attempt to improve relations, Russo/Brit, as the local office is currently understaffed.

P.S. This excercise should improve my knowledge of Central European geography if I can remember the info gathered.
See also the OTT section.

[filmman]

Apparently the U2 was not replaced as expected by UAVs because it can carry twice the payload of a UAV. However a UAV is much more expendable, remember "Russian Missiles" shooting down aircraft in the Ukraine. It's been flying near the Russian/Ukraine border for the Winter (ground hard) before the Spring thaw ground softening. Coincidentally, Putin has announced the virtual completion of a strategically important land bridge from Russia to the Annexed Crimea. Unfortunately, considering the Polonium and now Nerve Gas poisonings, office understaffing might be sending too soft a diplomatic signal. I am surprised they didn't initially throw out the Embassy.
Filmman

[C24]

Currently over Estonia