An E-8C.
Greg L. Davis is an airman in the U.S. Air Force.
Two of the US Air Force's best planes flew over eastern Ukraine on Monday, less than 40 miles from territory controlled by Russian-backed rebels.
The two-jet mission, involving an E-8C ground-surveillance plane and an RC-135V signals-intelligence plane, is one of the first missions that the USAF openly has flown inside Ukrainian air space.
The force, which included around 100,000 troops, 1,200 tanks and scores of specialized vehicles, has diminished slightly in recent days.
More than enough of Moscow's forces are in position for an attack. The U.S. State Department warned Americans against traveling to Ukraine. There are reports that Russia is planning for a military action against Ukraine.
There is still a chance of a diplomatic resolution. The US and Russian governments agreed to talks in January after a phone call between the US and Russian presidents.
Washington has increased its support for Kiev. Billions of dollars worth of radars, patrol boats, and anti-tank missiles have been transferred from the United States to Ukraine. A team from the U.S. military traveled to Ukraine to look at the country's air-defense network. The Americans are gathering intel over Ukraine and sharing it with the Ukrainians.
The E-8C and RC-135V are compelling. The E-8C has a ground moving target indicator that can be used to determine the direction of travel and speed of vehicles over time.
The RC-135V is a signals-intelligence plane that picks up enemy transmissions. An E-8 and RC-135 could work together. The former is able to detect tanks and other vehicles. The latter keeps track of their communications. A few passes by the duo could give commanders a complete view of Russian forces.
There is risk. The deployment of NATO forces in the immediate vicinity of our borders will have the most serious consequences according to the Russian foreign minister.
The White House was not deterred by the threat. The public can only see E-8s and RC-135s when they fly with their transponders on, meaning they appear on several flight- tracking websites. The crews could have been ordered to turn off their transponders.
It did not. The mission was more than just looking at Russian forces. It was a statement from the Biden administration.
The Monday sorties underscored the military's capabilities. Few countries have the same mix of capabilities. The Royal Air Force sold its main ground- scanning aircraft to the U.S. Army.
The USAF is about to give up most of its fleet. The Air Force decided that the big, slow E-8s can't survive near enemy air-defenses in wartime and is retiring the type. Four of the service's 12 remaining E-8s will be sold.
The Air Force is set to dwindle until 10 GMTI-equipped Block 40 Global Hawk drones remain. The cross-cueing mission over Ukraine was significant. The Pentagon might be able to duplicate the feat in the future.
