NATO to Deploy Additional Patrol Aircraft and Drones to Black Sea After Vessel Attacks
NATO announced the deployment of extra maritime patrol aircraft, radar systems and drones to the Black Sea following a series of drone strikes on commercial ships near Romania and Bulgaria.
NATO said it will boost its presence in the Black Sea by sending additional maritime patrol aircraft, radar equipment, explosive-ordnance teams, intelligence staff and drones, a move aimed at improving surveillance after recent attacks on commercial vessels.
The decision was taken by the North Atlantic Council during its meeting in Brussels on Oct. 20. U.S. Army Col. Martin O'Donnell, speaking for NATO, said the alliance’s immediate priority is to enhance threat awareness through extra surveillance assets and intelligence sharing.
The deployments follow a string of drone strikes on merchant ships near the coasts of Romania and Bulgaria. On Oct. 13, drones hit the Maltese-flagged, Ukrainian-owned vessel Chelsea 3 and the Guinea-Bissau-flagged HS Dignity, the latter sinking with 11 crew members missing. Bulgarian authorities recovered fragments of the suspected drones for analysis.
Two days later, a San Marino-flagged chemical tanker caught fire near the Romanian port of Sulina, with seven sailors reported missing amid reports of drone activity.
NATO has not publicly assigned responsibility for the attacks, though military analysts have suggested Russia as a likely source. NATO spokesperson Allison Hart said the alliance has already strengthened its eastern flank with counter-drone capabilities and will remain united to address any threat.
Romanian forces also engaged drones on Oct. 17, with F-16 jets shooting down two unmanned aircraft over national waters, which the Romanian Defense Minister said appeared to be Russian-made Geran-4 models.