UAV RQ-170 Sentinel over the Black Sea
RQ-170 Sentinel at the airfield. Photo medium.com
Over the past few years in the Black Sea region there has been an increased activity of intelligence aviation NATO. After the start of the Russian Special Operation, the intensity of its flights increased markedly. Aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles are almost non-stop present in certain areas and monitor the situation. Recently it became known that even the secret RQ-170 Sentinel UAVs were involved in such missions.
According to new data
NATO countries have long been monitoring the Black Sea region with all available means. In particular, reconnaissance aviation plays an important role in these processes. Special-purpose aircraft and UAVs regularly make sorties along different routes, barrage in certain areas, etc. Depending on the task, air reconnaissance aircraft use optical, radar, or electronic means.
In missions of this kind, aviation systems of a number of types are used, which are in service with the air forces of NATO countries. Recently, new interesting information has appeared on this subject. If it is true, then foreign armies use a wider range of platforms than was previously known.
In the first days of April, a certain package of documents for the authorship of various structures of the Pentagon got into free access. The military department calls this a leak of classified data, but there are serious reasons for doubting the veracity of this version. At a minimum, some of the "secret documents" have signs of misinformation being thrown in. At the same time, others contain very interesting data, but it is not clear whether they correspond to reality and to what extent.
One of the documents is designated as "Black Sea ISR Sorties, 29 Sep 22 - 26 Feb 23" ("Reconnaissance flights over the Black Sea, from September 29, 2022 to February 26, 2023") It contains a summary table for the types of equipment involved and the number of sorties, features of some missions, as well as a map of the flight area.
According to this document, during the specified period, RC-135 aircraft of the Royal Air Force of Great Britain and French Mirage 2000 aircraft with a reconnaissance hanging container were operating over the Black Sea. In total, they completed 16 flights. In addition, 73 sorties were carried out by unmanned systems - RQ-4, MQ-9 and RQ-170 of the American and NATO forces.
Aerial reconnaissance data from a recent leak
Of greatest interest is the information on the use of the RQ-170 Sentinel UAV. Previously, the United States or NATO did not report the involvement of such equipment in reconnaissance in the region. They were deployed and used behind the scenes and without any lighting. The Russian Ministry of Defense also did not talk about the appearance of these drones.
According to the leak, secret UAVs performed nine flights. The first five missions took place in November last year, and this was the period of the most intensive flights. In December there was a break, and in January there were only three sorties. For almost the whole of February, Sentinel was used only once. It cannot be ruled out that the use of such UAVs continued after February 26. By now, they could make a few more sorties with an unknown target.
Secret object
Flights of American UAVs over the Black Sea have not been surprising for a long time. However, information about the involvement of the RQ-170 Sentinel product in such work is of great interest. The fact is that this drone is one of the most secret American developments, and it is used only in special cases.
According to open data, the RQ-170 project was developed by Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works department in the first half of the 2007s. In the middle of the decade, the necessary tests were passed, and in 20 the Sentinel entered service with the US Air Force. In the future, according to various estimates, at least 30-XNUMX drones were built for the customer.
The existence of the RQ-170 first became known in 2007 thanks to poor quality photographs from Kandahar. Later, the Pentagon confirmed the adoption of the new UAV. In the future, such devices were seen several times at other bases. In 2011, one of the drones ended up in Iran. It has been carefully studied, and besides, now after that its exact appearance has become known.
The only official photo of the Sentinel. Photo by the US Department of Defense
According to various sources, the RQ-170 is in service with several US Air Force reconnaissance squadrons. Depending on current needs, units and individual complexes operate on American territory or are deployed at overseas bases. For a decade and a half, Sentinel services have been used in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, South Korea, etc. For obvious reasons, the details of the service and operation of the drones remain unknown.
Technical secrets
RQ-170 Sentinel was developed a long time ago, but detailed information about it is still missing. In fact, only the general appearance and some architectural features are known. Performance characteristics, payloads and their capabilities, etc. are still unknown. At the same time, there are various assumptions of varying degrees of reliability.
The drone is built according to the "flying wing" scheme. There is a single swept plane with a span of approx. 20 m with a protruding fuselage above and below. On the sides of the central "hump" are additional fairings. The total length of the product does not exceed 5 m. There is no plumage. The take-off weight, judging by the size, should be several tons. The appearance of the UAV indicates the use of stealth technologies and the possibility of being hidden in the airspace.
Inside the fuselage there is room for one turbojet engine. The aerodynamic shape of the device allows you to fly only at subsonic speeds, incl. high. At the same time, the “flying wing” scheme provides a high range and flight duration necessary for conducting reconnaissance at a distance from bases.
Judging by the known data on the application. The RQ-170 is capable of carrying different types of payloads. In the wing and in the fairing under the bottom there can be optics, radar, incl. side view, or electronic intelligence station. Models and characteristics of such devices are unknown.
As far as is known, in Afghanistan such drones were used for visual detection of enemy targets and subsequent target designation. According to a recent leak, flights over the Black Sea are carried out at a distance from land, which indicates the conduct of electronic intelligence.
Estimated scheme of the UAV. Graphics Wikimedia Commons
Specific targets
In general, the RQ-170 Sentinel UAV can be considered as a special intelligence tool with specific characteristics and capabilities. It differs from other aviation complexes in reduced visibility, and may also have operational advantages. With all this, flight, technical and operational characteristics must be at a sufficiently high level.
Sentinel is capable of solving the same tasks as other American-made reconnaissance UAVs. However, the specific appearance and characteristics allow it to work in more complex environments. He probably has the ability to approach closer to the air defense areas of responsibility without risk. In addition, such a UAV is capable of carrying more complex and efficient load options.
Thus, the RQ-170 can be used as an addition to other UAVs in case of difficult situations. It is used when there are any threats or when it is necessary to hide the fact of departure and reconnaissance.
If the RQ-170s really worked and, possibly, are working on the Black Sea, then this can be explained precisely by the desire of the Pentagon to collect the necessary information without the risk of detection. What kind of data was collected is a big question. It only took a few flights. However, we can also talk about a simple rotation of complexes or gaining experience of operators.
Secret revealed
For obvious reasons, the US and NATO are following current events in Ukraine and the actions of the Russian army. For this, all available reconnaissance means are used, including a variety of UAVs. Now it has become known that not only well-known and widespread aviation systems are used to collect information, but also secret samples.
It is possible that in February the use of the RQ-170 UAV did not end, and such equipment will again appear over the Black Sea. The Russian army should take this into account and take appropriate measures. It is not known how such activities of third countries will be counteracted. But there are various means and methods available, up to the most unusual ones, and many have already been tested by practice.
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