NATO planes rush to Russian border as WW3 fears erupt

NATO carried out operations on NATO's border. (Image: Getty)

NATO carried out operations across Europe this week, close to the Russian border. Air force jets from NATO, the US, the UK and Norway have been conducting a flurry of operations on Wednesday (November 12) across northern Europe and near the border with Russia and Ukraine.

A Norwegian  P-8A “Poseidon” Maritime Patrol and Surveillance Aircraft has been observed flying towards the Barents Sea, operating close to northern Russia. At the same time, a US Air Force RC-135U “Combat Sent” electronic surveillance aircraft (callsign JAKE37) and a NATO E-3A “Sentry” Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft (NATO01) were heading east for routine patrols near Eastern Europe. Meanwhile, two US Air Force KC-135 Stratotankers were refuelling a pair of B-52H "Stratofortress” long-range bombers over the North Sea before heading towards Finland. These flights will conduct a mix of intelligence-gathering, air refuelling and deterrence missions. These are routine operational activities, but also signal continued readiness amid regional tensions.

Air operations by NATO, the US and several European nations are being conducted over northern Europe (Image: Flightradar24)

According to Flightradar24, the US's JAKE37 departed from the UK's RAF Mildenhall at 7:05am, heading straight for Finland's border with Russia. It completed a couple of loops before making its way back over the Baltic Sea.

Meanwhile, NATO's Sentry aircraft (NATO01) appeared on radar over Poland, before making its way over Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. These planes are modified Boeing 707s with a distinctive rotating radar dome, which serve as mobile command and control centres, providing air surveillance, battle management and long-range radar to detect and track aircraft over a wide area.

NATO operates a fleet of these aircraft through the NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control Force (NAEW&CF), based in Geilenkirchen, Germany.

The NATO E-3A 'Sentry' Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft headed to Eastern Europe (Image: Getty)

Several RAF jets have also been seen conducting operations over Estonia, with an Airbus KC2 Voyager (RRR9915) and a Eurofighter Typhoon (RRR9911) circulating near the US Air Force's Boeing B-52H Stratofortress, which earlier flew across Sweden and Finland, having travelled in from southern Europe.

A number of French A330 Multirole Tanker Transports (MRTT) also departed Istres-Le Tubé Air Base in Southern France, heading east towards Romania.

A German Air Force Airbus A400M Atlas has also been sighted over Latvia.