World · Europe · 16 hrs ago
US surveillance plane circles over Estonia and Latvia near Russia
A US surveillance plane circled over Estonia and Latvia for more than two hours on October 17.
The Bombardier ARTEMIS II flew tens of kilometres from the countries’ borders with Russia.
The aircraft took off from Romania and its route also crossed Hungary, Slovakia, Poland and Lithuania.
US company Leidos converted the business jet for radar surveillance.
The plane is used for intelligence flights and has also flown around Russia’s Kaliningrad region and over the Black Sea.
Its flight brought it near Russia’s borders, but the sources do not say what information it gathered or describe any response.
A US Bombardier ARTEMIS II surveillance aircraft patrolled over Estonia and Latvia near Russia’s borders on October 17, according to flight data examined by RIA Novosti.
The aircraft circled over the Baltic countries for more than two hours, tens of kilometres from the Russian border.
It departed from Mihail Kogălniceanu International Airport in Romania at about 08:42 Moscow time.
Its route also crossed Hungary, Slovakia, Poland and Lithuania.
The aircraft is a business jet converted by US company Leidos for radar surveillance.
- Who
- A US Bombardier ARTEMIS II surveillance aircraft.
- What
- It patrolled and circled over Estonia and Latvia near Russia’s border.
- When
- October 17, 2026; it departed at about 08:42 Moscow time.
- Where
- Over Estonia and Latvia, tens of kilometres from Russia’s border. It departed from an airport in Romania.
- Why
- The aircraft is equipped for radar surveillance; the sources do not state a specific reason for this patrol.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
ARTEMIS II departed Mihail Kogălniceanu International Airport in Romania.
The aircraft had turned back before reaching Estonia’s coast and was heading south, according to Lenta News.
ARTEMIS II circled over Estonia and Latvia tens of kilometres from Russia’s border.
The aircraft returned to the Romanian airport, according to Клопс.
- Aircraft
- Bombardier ARTEMIS II
- Departure
- About 08:42 Moscow time, October 17, 2026
- Departure airport
- Mihail Kogălniceanu International Airport, Romania
- Patrol area
- Estonia and Latvia, tens of kilometres from Russia’s border
- Time circling
- More than two hours
- Operator that converted the aircraft
- Leidos