France Keeps Maritime Patrol Plane In Black Sea As Attacks On Ships Increase
France has extended the stay of its maritime patrol aircraft in Romania by several more weeks, as attacks on merchant ships in the Black Sea continue to worry NATO members.
The Atlantique 2 was first sent to the country on October 18 and was due to leave on November 6. Its commander said that the aircraft would now stay for a few more weeks to help keep commercial traffic safe.
The deployment followed requests for reinforcement from Romania and Bulgaria after a series of drone strikes near their coasts. October saw strikes on about nine merchant vessels off the two countries, and roughly 34 seafarers are either dead or unaccounted for. Russia has denied targeting its neighbours.
The French maritime patrol aircraft is designed to spot submarines, warships and smaller threats such as mines and sea drones.
The Contship Jet, a container ship owned by a Greek company, was passing through Bulgaria’s economic waters on October 28 when three sea drones targeted her. The French aircraft had spotted them beforehand, and the commander said that both the Bulgarian authorities and the vessel were warned about an hour before the strike. All 18 crew members survived, although the ship later sank.
Bulgaria’s navy commander said earlier that its forces could not reach the area in time to stop the attack.
The French commander was also clear about the limits of the aircraft. It can detect such drones and raise the alarm, but it has no means to neutralise or intercept them.
NATO allies have pledged to spend over $40 billion on counter-drone systems during the next five years. The alliance has also reiterated that it will defend every member, including those along the Black Sea.
The sea is bordered by Turkey, Georgia, Ukraine, Russia, Romania and Bulgaria, and it is a key outlet for grain and oil cargoes.
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