Massive intelligence gathering effort underway over Europe

[aziqbal]

Massive intelligence gathering effort underway over Europe
By
George Allison
-
January 19, 2022
17




Earlier today ten surveillance aircraft from multiple NATO members, including Britain, flew over the Baltics and Ukraine.
The below graphic shows “a collection of NATO and Swedish ISR flights from December 30th, 2021 to January 18th, 2022.”
The following tweets, reproduced with permission, are part of a collaboration between two well known and well respected Twitter accounts. @ameliairheart tracks and details the activities of the aircraft of various armed forces and keeps people informed on what those aircraft are doing, she also has a blog that you can visit here. The blog is recommended reading. @Orion__int is a freelance open-source intelligence analyst known for combining 3D tracks with satellite imagery, you can find him on Twitter by clicking here.

Activity in the time period examined below focuses on Kaliningrad and Crimea, reports @Orion__int. According to @ameliaairheart, the following western surveillance aircraft were in the air today.

• USN P-8A (PK18x)
• US Army RC-12Xs (YANK01 & YANK03)
• USAF RC-135W (JAKE11)
• USAF E-8C (REDEYE6)
• British P-8A (GURNY01)
• British RC-135W (RRR7205)
• Swedish S100D (SVF604)
• Swedish S102B (SVF623)
• Norwegian 20ECM (NOW717H)
• German P-3C (GNY4500)

Context?
Currently, there is a massive western effort underway related to Ukraine in the face of a potential Russian invasion. Ignoring the surveillance flights, there’s also an effort to arm Ukraine.

According to a statement given by the Defence Secretary in the House of Commons on the 17th of January 2022.
“As of today, tens of thousands of Russian troops are positioned close to the Ukrainian border. Their deployment is not routine, and they are equipped with tanks, armoured fighting vehicles, rocket artillery, and short-range ballistic missiles. I can today confirm to the House that, in light of the increasingly threatening behaviour from Russia, and in addition to our current support, the UK is providing a new security assistance package to increase Ukraine’s defensive capabilities.

We have taken the decision to supply Ukraine with light, anti-armour, defensive weapon systems. A small number of UK personnel will also provide early-stage training for a short period of time, within the framework of Operation ORBITAL, before then returning to the United Kingdom. This security assistance package complements the training and capabilities that Ukraine already has, and those that are also being provided by the UK and other Allies in Europe and the United States. Ukraine has every right to defend its borders, and this new package of aid further enhances its ability to do so.

Let me be clear: this support is for short-range, and clearly defensive weapons capabilities; they are not strategic weapons and pose no threat to Russia. They are to use in self-defence and the UK personnel providing the early-stage training will return to the United Kingdom after completing it.”

Massive intelligence gathering effort underway over Europe

Ten surveillance aircraft from multiple Western nations, including Britain, conducted intelligence-gathering missions over the Baltics and Ukraine today.

ukdefencejournal.org.uk

 

[SQ8]

One would expect nothing less - however it isn’t a one day effort and the flights are being flown regularly.

 

[dBSPL]

Presumably, missions that are only visible on the ATC radar network, in other words, with the transponder active, should be seen in the above graphics. This type of flight can actually be a demonstration of capability against an adversary as much as the mission itself.

During most of the 90's, Greece and Turkiye had more intense air activity over the Aegean/Islands. Dogfights were almost daily occurrences. All types of signal intelligence aircrafts were on daily duty. So the air traffic maps above should not reflect even 10% of a maximum alert situation.

 

[dBSPL]

Massive intelligence gathering effort underway over Europe
By


View attachment 809953

There is a striking detail. When we look at the flight lines and supply bases, we see Georgia, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Poland, Denmark, Czechia, Hungary and the baltic EU countries. Another remarkable thing is that Sweden support, is not a NATO country. Sweden, which built 40,000 nuclear bunkers during the toughest years of the Cold War, but still did not join NATO. Czechia, Poland and the baltic region are also very meaningful despite the current war of discourse!

Guess which country's airspace is not used specifically?

The world is very close to going insane. But we have to stay calm.

 

[aziqbal]

There is a striking detail. When we look at the flight lines and supply bases, we see Georgia, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Poland, Denmark, Czechia, Hungary and the baltic EU countries.

Another remarkable thing is that Sweden, is not a NATO country. Sweden, which built 40,000 nuclear bunkers during the toughest years of the Cold War, but still did not join NATO.

Czechia, Poland and the baltic region are also very meaningful despite the current war of discourse!

Guess which country's airspace is not used specifically?

The world is very close to going insane. But we have to stay calm.

Germany and they have good reason too

however Germany off course is on the side of NATO

and much of the counter attack and armoured thrust to push Russia back will come from Germany

German army is very professional and squared away not to mention the US Army stationed there

Europe is united against this Evil Empire

 

[dBSPL]

Germany and they have good reason too

however Germany off course is on the side of NATO

and much of the counter attack and armoured thrust to push Russia back will come from Germany

German army is very professional and squared away not to mention the US Army stationed there

Europe is united against this Evil Empire

Wrong answer! Germany is very cautious not to experience an energy crisis, but it does not have the luxury of not allowing US planes to use its airspace.

 

[aziqbal]

Wrong answer! Germany is very cautious not to experience an energy crisis, but it does not have the luxury of not allowing US planes to use its airspace.

excuse me energy ? That is the last thing Germans are worried about they even cancelled Nords Stream 2

Germans no longer need Russian energy

 

[dBSPL]

excuse me energy ? That is the last thing Germans are worried about they even cancelled Nords Stream 2

Germans no longer need Russian energy

No, nothing has been cancelled. Construction activities are nearing completion and full capacity gas flow will begin soon. Even with the exception of Nord 2, Russia alone constitutes the most important part of the gas supply to Germany.

Some sources say, Germany cannot rule out using the Nord Stream 2 pipeline as a means of pressure against the Kremlin in case of further Russian aggression towards Ukraine... But these are still far from serious and baseless threats. An energy crisis is the last thing you want for German industry right now.

The US is blocking Iranian gas. You lost Turkmen gas to China. Eastern Mediterranean gas was sacrificed to Greece's ambitions. Will you prevent this crisis with US LNG? Good luck, you're gambling with an unsustainable policy.

At the end of this game, it is a war of consolidation in which the USA v Russia will win and Europe will lose anyway.

The only rational way for Europe is to disrupt the US-Russia game.

 

[aziqbal]

No, nothing has been cancelled. Construction activities are nearing completion and full capacity gas flow will begin soon. Even with the exception of Nord 2, Russia alone constitutes the most important part of the gas supply to Germany.

Some sources say, Germany cannot rule out using the Nord Stream 2 pipeline as a means of pressure against the Kremlin in case of further Russian aggression towards Ukraine... But these are still far from serious and baseless threats. An energy crisis is the last thing you want for German industry right now.

The US is blocking Iranian gas. You lost Turkmen gas to China. Eastern Mediterranean gas was sacrificed to Greece's ambitions. Will you prevent this crisis with US LNG? Good luck, you're gambling with an unsustainable policy.

At the end of this game, it is a war of consolidation in which the USA v Russia will win and Europe will lose anyway.

The only rational way for Europe is to disrupt the US-Russia game.

I think you are looking through the lens of energy from 10 years ago, its more than just energy

US has become a net exporter of gas, yes also a exporter of oil

who would could have imaged this 20 years ago

UK has invested too much in renewables and Scotland alone supply enough for the UK from wind energy alone

Germans are going green and France has tons of nuclear reactors and building more

we dont need Russian energy even UK is closing down oil fields in North Sea

its not about energy in 2022 its all about geopolitics

China has shown its not a responsible power and Russia has played tricks in international relations as they always do

both are authoritarian regimes which grew rich because of slacking Western policies (China joint WTO + Russia allowed to attack neighbours)

now everyone is awake and 2022-2030 Western nations will stop China and Russia at every step with superiority military power and economic power

otherwise World will fail under 2 Evil Empires

Russia and China will be stopped at all costs

UK could have done this covertly, but no they did it openly in front of the World and the Germans are begging UK not to send more weapons

British have made those C17 flights public and openly saying to Russia, come forward now with your best foot and meet us head on

lets see if Russia will take the dare