From time to time, I gather and compile basic statistics on US / NATO/ Swedish flights principally near to Russia, (see previous articles posted here under the tag #air missions). The idea is to get a rough snapshot of the activity, location and types of aircraft that carry out intelligence-gathering missions, broadly known as Intelligence ( Read more... )

End of year update for the statistics and data presented by the Russian Ministry of Defence and Red Star.


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1st part of some information gathering on USAF strategic flights regularly promoted as " routine training" and "reassurance missions" for NATO allies and also to deter 'adversaries' or 'competitors'.

UPDATED INFOGRAPHICS 24 Sept.


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This week, in an interview with TASS, the head of the Russian Border Guard Service spoke about the increase in intelligence activities along the Russian sea borders.

"Seaward parts of Pacific and Arctic oceans, Baltic and Black Seas are increasingly becoming areas of intelligence[-gathering], naval exercises, in which foreign ships and aviation ( Read more... )

Run-down of events: RT article

RT report summarises the briefing well.

Russian MoD spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov gave a detailed account of the Israeli air strikes and event leading up to the shooting down of the Il-20 ELINT aircraft, (video with English subtitles provided in link).  He called such actions "a clear violation of the ( Read more... )