The United States has increased its intelligence-gathering efforts along the Finnish-Russian border, deploying both manned and unmanned reconnaissance aircraft in the region.
These aircraft were visible on the Flightradar24 online tracking map on August 25 and 26.
On August 25, an RQ-4 Global Hawk, a sophisticated reconnaissance drone from the U.S. Air Force, was spotted conducting surveillance near the border. The drone made several loops, focusing on areas near the Russian city of St. Petersburg and extending its monitoring toward Murmansk.
The following day, August 26, a manned RC-135U Combat Sent reconnaissance aircraft was sent for similar operations, performing multiple circles in the area.
The RC-135U is part of a series of Boeing reconnaissance aircraft used for gathering and analyzing intelligence, with this version specifically designed to collect data on enemy radar systems.
Photo: Flightradar24 on X
The RQ-4 Global Hawk is known for its long-range surveillance capabilities, equipped with a system that allows for detailed reconnaissance from a great distance.
According to Militarnyi, this heightened US surveillance might be connected to Finland's recent decision to station a NATO armored brigade near the Russian border. The new brigade, consisting of 4,000 to 5,000 troops, is being established in the city of Mikkeli as part of Finland's strategy to strengthen its defenses against potential threats.
Finnish leaders and military officials believe that having NATO troops in the country is essential for enhancing "preventive deterrence" against any potential aggressors.
In addition, on July 1, the Finnish Parliament unanimously approved the Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA) with the United States. This agreement allows the U.S. military access to 15 Finnish military facilities, further solidifying the defense partnership between the two nations.
