A Joint Coordinated Air Surveillance Exercise to Enhance Protection of Freedom of Navigation.

On 24 July 2025, the social media accounts of the Belgian Defence (Defensie/La Défense) and the French Armed Forces (Armée Française) shared images from their latest joint operation conducted over the Black Sea. The published photographs revealed the participation of two Belgian F-16As, two French Rafales, a French E-3F Sentry AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System), and three A330 MRTTs (Multi-Role Tanker Transport) – two operated by France and one NATO asset from the Multinational MRTT Fleet crewed by Belgian personnel. The UK  also participated in this joint exercise; however, the UK Ministry of Defence did not release any information regarding its involvement or the specific assets deployed.
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During the joint exercise, the E-3F and the three MRTTs orbited over Bulgaria while the four fighter aircraft conducted strategic surveillance of international airspace above the Black Sea (Picture source: X Channel @BelgiumDefence)

During the joint exercise, the E-3F and the three MRTTs orbited over Bulgaria while the four fighter aircraft conducted strategic surveillance of international airspace above the Black Sea. The objective of the mission was to enhance allied situational awareness and reinforce the principle of freedom of navigation in international waters. The allies did not disclose further information regarding the mission.

The E-3F SDCA (Système de Détection et de Commandement Aéroporté) is a French aircraft based on the Boeing 707 airframe, identical to that used by the United States Air Force. France received four E-3F SDCAs in the early 1990s, and they are currently operated by the 36th Airborne Command and Control Wing at Avord Air Base 702. Fitted with both active and passive detection systems, the E-3F – commonly referred to as the AWACS – is employed to evaluate the tactical situation across a theatre of operations, including all airborne platforms, maritime vessels, and ground-based air defence threats. Its extensive communications and data-sharing capabilities allow the aircraft to transmit the recognised air and surface picture to ground-based command centres and friendly aircraft. This platform provides the French Air Force with a critical command and control (C2) capability for air operations.

The Airbus A330 MRTT is a strategic transport and aerial refuelling aircraft developed by Airbus and derived from the civilian A330-200 platform. Designed as a multi-role asset, it is capable of simultaneously transporting personnel and cargo while also conducting in-flight refuelling missions. Commissioned in 2011, the A330 MRTT has accumulated over 310,000 operational flight hours and is currently in service with 15 nations. It is compatible with the majority of Western fighter aircraft.

The F-16A/B Fighting Falcon is a lightweight, single-engine, multirole fighter aircraft developed by General Dynamics (now Lockheed Martin) for the United States Air Force (USAF) in 1974. The F-16A is the single-seat variant, while the F-16B is the tandem two-seat trainer version. The aircraft entered service in the Belgian Air Force in 1979. Originally designed as an air superiority fighter, the F-16A/B has evolved into one of the most versatile and widely deployed aircraft in the world.

The current version of the F-16 active in the Belgian Air Force is the F-16AM/BM Block 15. In 1987, as part of the research for a replacement to the F-16, it was decided to upgrade the Belgian fleet to the MLU (Mid-Life Update) standard. This update brings, inter alia, the possibility to mount new and upgraded weapons systems, upgrade avionics (such as the AN/APG-66(V2) radar or the Color multifunction displays (MFDs)), and structural reinforcement to the airframe.

Recent events in Ukraine and the Red Sea have highlighted the ease with which international trade routes can be hit. This exercise is therefore part of the renewed interest of NATO allies in the protection of commercial lines and the freedom of navigation in international waters.