NATO deploys US E-3 Sentry long-range radar detection aircraft near the Russian border in Europe

NATO is moving E-3 Sentry long-range radar detection aircraft to the Russian border in Europe. They will be based in Lithuania.

Here's What We Know

The first aircraft arrived at Šiauliai airport on 28 September 2023. It is located about 250 kilometres from the Russian mainland and less than 150 kilometres from Kaliningrad.

A second long-range radar detection aircraft will arrive in Lithuania shortly. The E-3 Sentry usually flies from Germany for missions in Europe, which include flights near the Ukrainian border and can last up to 12 hours.

The Boeing aircraft is equipped with a radar station that can detect enemy bombers within a radius of 520 kilometres. The E-3 can also see small targets at a range of up to 400 kilometres.

Together with the two long-range radar surveillance aircraft, NATO will send 150 troops to Lithuania. The E-3 Sentry mission is expected to last for several weeks. A NATO press release said that since February 2022, Alliance aircraft have flown hundreds of missions over Eastern Europe to monitor Russian military aircraft.

Source: NATO