A U.S. Air Force Boeing RC-135U Combat Sent aircraft in 2004. US Air Force Photo
PENTAGON — A Russian fighter intercepted a U.S. Air Force reconnaissance flight in an “unsafe and unprofessional manner’ in international airspace over the Black Sea, a Pentagon spokeswoman confirmed to USNI News on Thursday. Read More
An AV-8B Harrier assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 162 (Reinforced), 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (26th MEU), launches from the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD-3) on Nov. 19, 2015. US Navy Photo
Naval forces resumed air strikes against the Islamic State this week after a one-month pause in participation in Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR), the Navy announced today. Read More
Adm. Mark Ferguson at The Atlantic Council on Oct. 6, 2015. Atlantic Council Image
Russia has found ways to slow NATO military responses while simultaneously quickening its own ability to mobilize, the commander of U.S. naval forces in Europe and Africa said, and NATO needs to find ways to adapt. Read More
USS Porter (DDG 78) pulls alongside the Military Sealift Command dry cargo and ammunition ship USNS Medgar Evers (T-AKE 13) before a replenishment-at-sea on April 15, 2015. US Navy Photo
As part of the U.S. and NATO’s presence mission on the Black Sea, guided missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG-78) is set to enter the region on Tuesday, U.S. 6th Fleet announced. Read More
Russian cruiser Moscow.
A Black Sea-based Russian surface action group scrambled to the Eastern Mediterranean —under the guise of drilling in the region — are likely there to provide an air defense bubble to protect Russian fighters striking targets in Syria, according to a Russian press report. Read More
Russian ship Moscow in 2009.
Several Russian warships are bound for the Eastern Mediterranean for high-end exercises, according to a statement from the Russian Ministry of Defence. Read More
USS Donald Cook leaves the Black Sea on Sept. 13, 2015. US Navy Photo
A joint series of exercises between Ukraine and the U.S. has ended and guided missile destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG-75) has left the Black Sea, U.S. 6th Fleet announced on Monday. Read More
Guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG-75) transits the Bosphorus Strait en route to the Black Sea on Aug. 28, 2015. US Navy Photo
The U.S. and Ukraine formally kicked off almost two weeks of naval exercises on Monday in and around the Black Sea as part of the latest iteration of Sea Breeze. Read More
USS Porter (DDG-78), left, and the Romanian naval ship ROS Marcellariu (265), right, transit through the Black Sea during a passing exercise on July 14, 2015. US Navy Photo
The guided missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG-78) left the Black Sea after a series of exercises as part of the U.S. and NATO’s ongoing presence mission in the region while forward deployed destroyer USS Ross (DDG-71) has completed a four-month European patrol. Read More
USS Porter (DDG-78) off the coast of Bulgaria on July 6, 2015. US Navy Photo
Guided missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG-78) entered the Black Sea on Sunday — following three other NATO ships in the last several days — marking a noticeable uptick in activity in the region ahead of military exercises in Bulgaria, according to a Bosphorus Naval News ship spotting site and U.S. 6th Fleet. Read More
