The Italian defense aviation tracking website ItamilRadar has reported intensified US aerial activity in the central Mediterranean, specifically in airspace adjacent to Libya.
The operations, described as part of ongoing intelligence and reconnaissance efforts, underscore Washington’s continued strategic interest in North Africa amid growing political instability in Libya.
On Sunday, two US military aircraft were tracked conducting surveillance missions between Sicily, Tunisia, and the Libyan coast. The first aircraft, an MQ-4C Triton unmanned aerial vehicle operated by the US Navy, used the callsign “BLKCAT5” and was registered as “169660.”
It was believed to have taken off from Sigonella Air Base in Sicily. The drone conducted extended patrols over international waters, focusing on the maritime zone near the Libyan-Tunisian border and the coastal area surrounding Tripoli. The mission likely involved monitoring shipping activity and coastal movements.
The second aircraft was a US Army Challenger 650 ARTEMIS, a jet configured for signals intelligence (SIGINT), registered as “N488CR.” It departed from Constanța, Romania, and carried out reconnaissance loops off the coast between Tripoli and Misrata.
Equipped with advanced electronic monitoring systems, the aircraft is capable of collecting data on communications and radar emissions from ground-based installations and vessels.
Simultaneously, a US Air Force C-130J Super Hercules, registration “07-8614,” arrived at Misrata Airport from Souda Bay Air Base in Crete. Details regarding the cargo or mission purpose remain undisclosed.
These aerial operations come at a time of renewed political and military tension in western Libya, particularly around Tripoli.
The coordinated deployment of ISR platforms suggests an ongoing assessment of the security environment and maritime dynamics, possibly linked to counterterrorism, migration monitoring, or safeguarding regional interests.
