conflictWednesday, September 2, 2026event Sep 32 sources

NATO Reconnaissance Aircraft Bombardier Artemis II Spotted in Baltic Sea Area Near Russia

On September 3, 2026, NATO reconnaissance aircraft Bombardier Artemis II was spotted in the Baltic Sea area for the third consecutive day, flying over Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. The aircraft, based in Romania, was reported by European Union air traffic control services. The activity raised concerns due to its proximity to Russian territory.

The aircraft, identified as Bombardier Artemis II, flew from south to north and back over Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia, making a turn near the Estonian coast of the Gulf of Finland. It took off from an airfield in Constanta, Romania, and flew at an altitude of about 11 km over Russia, using civil aviation corridors. The European Union's air traffic control services reported the activity on both September 2 and 3, with one source citing September 3 and another citing September 2 as the date of the sightings.

Where Sources Diverge

One article mentions the aircraft was spotted on September 3, while another reports the activity on September 2.

izvestia

Reported on September 3 by the European Union's air traffic control services.

izvestia

According to reports from the European Union (EU) air traffic control services on September 2.

Timelines

Sources

IndependentIzvestiaSep 3, 03:53 PM
NATO reconnaissance aircraft spotted in the Baltic Sea area

A NATO reconnaissance aircraft has been conducting flights in the Baltic Sea area for the third day in a row, including near the coast of the Gulf of Finland. This was reported on September 3 by the European Union's air traffic control services. "A NATO-owned reconnaissance aircraft Bombardier Artemis II was again spotted in the Baltic Sea area — today it flew from south to north and back over Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia, making a turn near the Estonian coast of the Gulf of Finland," the TASS report quotes the air traffic controllers.

IndependentIzvestiaSep 2, 04:02 PM
NATO Reconnaissance Aircraft Spotted in the Baltic Sea Area

The NATO reconnaissance aircraft Bombardier Artemis II has been circling in the Baltic Sea area, including the airspace over Kaliningrad Oblast, according to reports from the European Union (EU) air traffic control services on September 2. It is known that the aircraft took off from an airfield in Constanta (Romania), its permanent base, and is flying at an altitude of about 11 km over Russia, using civil aviation corridors.