ABOARD A FRENCH AIR FORCE AWACS (AP) —
In the cockpit, Ukraine's struggle unfolds below, obscured by seemingly tranquil snow-covered landscapes.
From this high vantage point over Romania, the devastating toll of Russia's war remains unseen—shattered towns, battle scars concealed by clouds.
Yet, in the rear, French military technicians analyze screens labeled "secret," unveiling a more insightful perspective. A potent radar swiftly scans, detecting missile launches, aerial bombings, and hidden military maneuvers in the conflict.
Monitoring screens, a rotating radar, and advanced surveillance equipment unveil the hidden reality of the conflict.
Approaching the second anniversary of Russia's Feb. 24, 2022, invasion of Ukraine, The Associated Press secured exceptional access aboard the colossal Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft. Accompanied by 26 military personnel and an AP journalist, the aircraft embarked on a 10-hour reconnaissance mission from central France to Romanian airspace and back. During this journey, it cast its electronic gaze over southern Ukraine, the Black Sea, and extended its surveillance to Russian-occupied Crimea and beyond.
Circling autonomously at 34,000 feet (10 kilometers), the aircraft, adorned with a proud rooster on its tail, transmitted real-time intelligence to commanders on the ground.
Functioning as part of NATO's mission on the eastern frontier of the 31-nation military coalition, it implicitly established a boundary in the skies over Europe.
Hovering persistently above eastern Romania, the plane, both an observer and observed by Russian forces, demonstrated NATO's vigilant scrutiny of its borders and Russia. It underscored the alliance's preparedness to intervene if Russian aggression posed a threat beyond Ukraine.
SHIELDS FOR NATO, PIECES OF AVIATION HISTORY
Routine aerial surveillance missions, alongside fighter patrols, ground-based radar, missile installations, and NATO's array of equipment, collectively forge what the leader of France's AWACS squadron characterized as an impervious "shield" against potential spillover.
The primary objective remains conflict avoidance and deterrence, affirmed by the squadron's commander, Lieutenant Colonel Richard. Due to French security measures, identification of military personnel, including Richard, is limited to ranks and first names.
"We aim to demonstrate our defensive capabilities, emphasizing NATO's commitment to collective defense," he emphasized. "Our proficiency extends to detection across all realms, with our presence geared not towards conflict but as a testament to our readiness and resolve."
France's quartet of AWACS constitutes a segment of the diverse surveillance fleet, which includes unmanned UAV drones, dedicated to gathering intelligence for both NATO and its member countries. According to Lt. Col. Richard, the French E-3F-type AWACS possess the capability to surveil for hundreds of kilometers (miles) with their unmistakable black-and-white rooftop radar domes, although he refrained from specifying exact distances.
The E-3s, adaptations of the Boeing 707, originate from aviation history, as the 707's commercial passenger service concluded in 2013.
Lt. Col. Richard emphasized the E-3's multifaceted detection capabilities, spanning aircraft, UAVs, missiles, and ships, especially evident near the Ukrainian border.
During the plane's vigilant surveillance, the crew identified a distant Russian AWACS over the Sea of Azov, situated many hundreds of kilometers away on the eastern flank of the Crimean Peninsula. Simultaneously, the Russian aircraft appeared to acknowledge the presence of the French AWACS, with sensors along its fuselage capturing Russian radar signals.
"We're aware they observe us, and they're aware we're watching them. It's a sort of dialogue between them and us," remarked Major Romain, the French co-pilot.
HAWK-EYED AWACS ON CALL TO SAFEGUARD THE OLYMPICS
NATO maintains its own squadron of 14 AWACS, also E-3s, equipped to identify low-flying targets up to 400 kilometers (250 miles) and higher-flying targets an additional 120 kilometers (75 miles) beyond that, according to the alliance. Highlighting their extensive reach, NATO states that one AWACS can monitor an area equivalent to the size of Poland, and with three in operation, they can collectively cover the entirety of central Europe.
With a remarkable endurance of 12 hours without refueling, French AWACS extend beyond NATO's usual roles in surveillance, communications, and air-traffic control missions. Anticipating a crucial role in the security framework for the Paris Olympics, they are poised to contribute their "God's-eye view" by offering supplementary radar surveillance, as described by Lt. Col. Richard.
Russian aviators have expressed displeasure at being under surveillance.
In 2022, a Russian fighter jet fired a missile close to a British air force RC-135 Rivet Joint reconnaissance aircraft operating in international airspace over the Black Sea, as reported by the UK government. In March 2023, the U.S. government unveiled footage of a Russian fighter jet releasing fuel onto a U.S. Air Force surveillance drone, resulting in the drone's crash into the Black Sea.
Rivet Joints, recognized for their exceptional capabilities, are highly proficient spy planes. Russian authorities vehemently dislike their ability to monitor the Ukraine conflict, according to Justin Bronk, a researcher at the Royal United Services Institute defense think tank in London.
In addition to collecting "real-time intelligence potentially shareable with Ukrainian partners," these planes offer invaluable insights into the actual operational strategies of Russian forces during a genuine conflict, as outlined by Bronk in a phone interview.
"Understandably, the Russians are infuriated," he remarked.
IN THE SKIES, REGULAR ENCOUNTERS
NATO routinely dispatches fighter jets to monitor Russian flights, reporting over 500 instances in 2022 of intercepting Russian aircraft approaching NATO airspace. In 2023, this frequency decreased to over 300 encounters, as disclosed by the Brussels-based alliance.
The reduction in encounters may be attributed, in part, to bolstered Ukrainian air defenses armed with Western weaponry, potentially making Russian pilots more cautious. NATO noted diminished activity by manned Russian flights over the western Black Sea last year, suggesting heightened wariness among Russian aviators. According to NATO, the majority of aerial encounters between NATO and Russian jets were characterized as safe and professional, with rare and brief incursions into NATO airspace by Russian aircraft.
On the French flight, Major Romain, the co-pilot, affirmed that Russian planes haven't intercepted a French AWACS "for a long time." In the event of such an encounter, he mentioned that French pilots would adopt a passive and polite approach in accordance with their orders.
