Reference News Network, October 13 report - According to the UK's Daily Telegraph website on October 11, two Royal Air Force reconnaissance aircraft were deployed to the NATO eastern border for a 12-hour patrol mission.

These two aircraft flew nearly 10,000 miles (approximately 16,000 kilometers), departing from north of the Arctic Circle, along the Russian border, passing through Belarus and Ukraine.

The Royal Air Force stated that this operation included an RC-135 "Joint Sentinels" electronic reconnaissance aircraft and a P-8 "Poseidon" maritime patrol aircraft.

This was a response to recent Russian drones and fighter jets entering NATO airspace.

They were supported by a U.S. Air Force KC-135 "Stratotanker" refueling aircraft from the 100th Air Refueling Wing, enabling them to fly farther.

These two Royal Air Force aircraft were specifically designed for intelligence gathering. The "Joint Sentinels" is intended to intercept and eavesdrop on military communications, while the "Poseidon" is used for anti-submarine warfare.

British Defense Secretary John Healey said: "This is a significant joint operation with our American and NATO allies. It not only provides valuable intelligence for enhancing our armed forces' operational awareness, but also sends a strong message of NATO unity to Putin and our adversaries."

Colonel Matthew Deobald of the Royal Air Force said: "Such missions demonstrate the solidarity of NATO and its readiness to protect its members from any aggression."

Last month, a Russian drone swarm flew over Ukraine into Poland, prompting NATO to urgently deploy fighter jets to shoot them down.

In September and October this year, at least 18 unidentified drones were found in Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Germany, disrupting airport operations and increasing concerns about the so-called "shadow war" aimed at provoking NATO. Russia has continuously denied any involvement in the incidents at Scandinavian airports.

These incidents have sparked intense debate within NATO on how to respond. Last month, President Trump suggested that NATO might fire upon Russian planes that enter allied airspace.

On September 12, NATO launched the "Eastern Sentinel" operation to defend its eastern territories. During the operation, two Royal Air Force fighters were deployed to Poland for the first time to maintain order.

On the 10th, Denmark announced an additional $4.2 billion in defense spending for the Arctic and North Atlantic regions and plans to purchase 16 more F-35 fighter jets from the United States. (Translated by Xu Yanhong)

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7560566795900355081/

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