Today, March 25, 2025, two NATO reconnaissance aircraft were detected operating near Russia's northwestern borders. Both aircraft, which are carrying out electronic reconnaissance missions, are focusing their attention on key border regions of the country. According to military sources, the first aircraft, a Gulfstream IV belonging to the Swedish Air Force, is monitoring the border near St. Petersburg. The second aircraft, a Bombardier Challenger 650 Artemis, is operating in a wider area, covering the Kaliningrad region, the territory of Belarus, as well as sections of the Russian border with Latvia and Estonia. 

The Gulfstream IV, known as a platform for collecting signals and radar data, patrols international airspace near the Leningrad region. Its presence in the area underscores NATO’s interest in the military infrastructure of northwestern Russia, including the Baltic Fleet and air defense systems. At the same time, the Bombardier Challenger 650 Artemis, equipped with advanced electronic intelligence, is on a larger mission. The aircraft, used by the US Army, records activity not only around the Kaliningrad exclave, but also along the alliance’s eastern borders, including the border areas of allied Belarus. Both aircraft operate within the framework of coordinated NATO operations, without violating Russian airspace, which is in line with international regulations. 

The activity of the reconnaissance aircraft occurs against the backdrop of ongoing tensions between Russia and NATO countries, caused by the conflict in Ukraine and recent diplomatic steps. The Russian military has not yet commented on the situation, but such flights are traditionally perceived as an attempt by the alliance to assess the defensive capabilities of the country and its allies. For residents of border regions, the presence of foreign aircraft has become a familiar phenomenon, although each such case increases the vigilance of local authorities and military structures.