US spy plane monitors new Russia warship as Finland joins NATO
Tom Rogan
A U.S. Air Force RC-135 spy plane monitored the Russian Northern Fleet on Tuesday, flying close to Finland just as that nation joined NATO.
The RC-135 is a signals intelligence aircraft designed to capture communications and other electronic emanations. Its flight on Tuesday would feasibly have allowed it to collect intelligence on the organization, tactics, and capabilities of Russian forces in and around the Barents and White seas.
Of particular note, however, Russia’s Admiral Golovko warship has just arrived in the Northern Fleet’s area of operations in order to conduct sea trials. Part of the new Admiral Gorshkov-class of guided missile frigates, Russian state media reports that the Golovko will test Kalibr and Onyx cruise missiles. It’s possible the Golovko might also test the Zircon hypersonic anti-ship missile system.
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These tests would certainly be of interest to the Pentagon, considering the potential for those weapons to be used against U.S. carrier strike groups. Rising Russian cooperation with China also means that the U.S. must guard against these weapons being provided to the People’s Liberation Army in advance of a possible war with the U.S. over Taiwan. Alongside the Northern Fleet’s Yasen-class submarine force, the Zircon also offers Russia feasible means of a decapitation strike against Washington, D.C.
The timing of this flight coincides with Finland joining NATO as its 31st member. Under outgoing Prime Minister Sanna Marin, Finland has been a highly reliable U.S. ally. Equally important, Finland’s very long land border with Russia is defended by a well-trained and combat-ready military. That military will soon benefit from defense spending greater than NATO’s 2%-of-GDP target. As an example of how Finland supports NATO interests, its fighter jets could have flown separately or alongside Norwegian jets to escort the RC-135 during this flight. That threat bears note, considering Russia’s recent downing of a U.S. drone over the Black Sea.
In short, Tuesday’s events show that Vladimir Putin’s effort to weaken NATO is failing badly.