The United States and France have increased aerial patrols in the western Black Sea amid increased attacks by Russian drones on merchant ships near Romania and Bulgaria. On the evening of October 24, an American P-8A Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft again conducted a reconnaissance flight over the sea east of the Bulgarian coast. This is the second such flight in as many days, the first coming after the plane was moved from Sigonella Air Base in Sicily to Varna, Bulgaria. At the same time, France sent an Atlantic 2 patrol plane to Constanta, Romania, which was also involved in search and rescue operations. Both types of aircraft were originally designed for maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare, but their powerful radars and optical systems allow them to detect, identify and track surface ships over long distances. The photo shows the patrol path of a US P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft off the coast of Bulgaria.

The United States and France have increased aerial patrols in the western Black Sea amid increased attacks by Russian drones on merchant ships near Romania and Bulgaria. On the evening of October 24, an American P-8A Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft again conducted a reconnaissance flight over the sea east of the Bulgarian coast. This is the second such flight in as many days, the first coming after the plane was moved from Sigonella Air Base in Sicily to Varna, Bulgaria. At the same time, France sent an Atlantic 2 patrol plane to Constanta, Romania, which was also involved in search and rescue operations. Both types of aircraft were originally designed for maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare, but their powerful radars and optical systems allow them to detect, identify and track surface ships over long distances. The photo shows the patrol path of a US P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft off the coast of Bulgaria.