Itamilradar

A US Navy P-8A landing at Sigonella. Amid political crises and conflict in the Gulf, what was once routine has become increasingly rare. Let’s take a look at the current status of the Poseidons at Sigonella. https://www.itamilradar.com/2026/10/01/us-navy-p-8a-returns-to-sigonella-as-the-formerly-routine-becomes-rare/

USAF Rivet Joint rotation, with Souda Bay remaining the deployment base. It is likely, however, that we will not track any missions by the newly arrived aircraft, just as happened with the departing one, which operated throughout its deployment with ADS-B switched off. https://www.itamilradar.com/2026/10/01/rivet-joint-change-of-the-guard/

Movements to and from the Gulf continue. Today, another deployment of F-35s reached the region, with a supporting package of tankers accompanying the deployment. https://www.itamilradar.com/2026/09/30/u-s-f-35as-from-the-uk-toward-the-gulf-in-centcom-deployment/

If extended to the rest of the fleet, this would be a small change, but one that would bring an end to a long-standing tradition of the Italian Navy. https://www.itamilradar.com/2026/09/30/a-new-look-for-the-italian-navy/

New deployment of USAF F-16s to the Gulf after a stopover at Aviano. https://www.itamilradar.com/2026/09/29/more-f-16s-leave-aviano-for-the-gulf/

After more than three months, the Italian CAEW reappears in maintenance at Phoenix. Is this a sign of its return to Italy? https://www.itamilradar.com/2026/09/27/italian-caew-returns-to-the-skies-after-three-months-as-another-aircraft-remains-deployed-in-saudi-arabia/

Following the CIA warning about the possibility of Russian drone attacks, including against Italy — a warning later denied by Defence Minister Crosetto — questions remain over the level of protection of Italian military bases. https://www.itamilradar.com/2026/09/24/russian-drone-threat-raises-questions-over-italys-air-and-naval-base-protection/

The "Syrian Express" left the Mediterranean today. The Russian ships are underway, heading back to their home port. https://www.itamilradar.com/2026/09/23/russian-convoy-leaves-mediterranean-sea-and-heads-back-to-russia/

Movements to and from the Gulf continue. Today, twelve F-16s are heading toward the Middle East. https://www.itamilradar.com/2026/09/22/three-kc-135s-join-12-us-f-16s-in-germany-for-a-flight-toward-the-gulf/

The Italian CAEW, deployed at Taif, was tracked in flight today, confirming that it was not affected by Saturday’s attack, which damaged an Italian Typhoon. https://www.itamilradar.com/2026/09/21/italian-caew-returns-to-the-air-over-the-red-sea-after-taif-attack/

In recent days, particularly following the attack on Taif air base, discussion about the presence of Italian military personnel in the Gulf region has intensified. The flights operated by this C-130 allow us to better understand how Italy maintains a presence in the region, often through missions that have been ongoing for several years and are not directly connected to the current Iran crisis. https://www.itamilradar.com/2026/09/20/italian-c-130j-extends-regional-operations-from-djibouti-to-baghdad/

Today, the Italian frigate ITS Bergamini escorted the Italian merchant vessel Jolly Oro during its transit through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The ship was operating within the European Aspides mission, as Italy considers launching its own mission to protect national commercial traffic through the strait. https://www.itamilradar.com/2026/09/18/italian-fremm-bergamini-escorts-merchant-ship-through-bab-el-mandeb-under-aspides/

During a Houthi attack overnight, an Italian Air Force Eurofighter was hit at Taif Air Base, where Italy has deployed several assets in support of Saudi Arabia. https://www.itamilradar.com/2026/09/18/italian-f-2000-hit-at-taif-raising-new-questions-over-italys-air-deployment/

After returning to the UK just yesterday, the RAF Rivet Joint has today returned to Souda Bay. We have therefore taken the opportunity to review the missions conducted by the British aircraft from Crete. https://www.itamilradar.com/2026/09/17/raf-rc-135w-returns-to-souda-bay-after-a-week-of-black-sea-sigint-missions/

Today as well, NATO continued to conduct SIGINT missions along the entire eastern flank, from Finland to the Black Sea, with at least four assets deployed. https://www.itamilradar.com/2026/09/16/nato-isr-aircraft-spread-across-northern-and-black-sea-flanks/

The drone is no longer trackable, but its last recorded position showed it heading toward Turkish airspace after reporting a radio communications problem. https://www.itamilradar.com/2026/09/16/nato-rq-4d-aborts-black-sea-mission-after-radio-failure/

Throughout today, we have tracked numerous movements across the Baltic Sea, Finland, and the Barents Sea: AWACS aircraft, tankers, maritime patrol aircraft, and SIGINT platforms have all been active, alongside other aircraft that could not be tracked, most likely fighter aircraft. https://www.itamilradar.com/2026/09/15/nato-surveillance-stretches-from-murmansk-to-kaliningrad-in-a-coordinated-baltic-nordic-operation/

Tonight, two Italian Eurofighters intercepted and shot down a drone that had violated Lithuanian airspace. https://www.itamilradar.com/2026/09/15/italian-eurofighters-shoot-down-drone-over-lithuania-putting-natos-eastern-air-defence-to-the-test/

New mission for the RAF Rivet Joint deployed to Souda. https://www.itamilradar.com/2026/09/14/raf-rc-135w-returns-to-the-black-sea-from-souda-bay-reinforcing-natos-surveillance-of-russias-southern-flank/

From the Barents Sea to the Black Sea, two simultaneous missions monitored Russia’s main naval bases in the two regions. https://www.itamilradar.com/2026/09/12/swedish-sigint-aircraft-and-raf-rivet-joint-operate-simultaneously-on-natos-northern-and-black-sea-flanks/