Unusual flight of Bombardier Global 6000 over Afghanistan

[foxbat]

It has been a few days i have noticed quite unusual flight pattern by a Global 6000 over afghanistan it keeps on circling at 40-44000 ft .



screen shot after one hour still circling




and still circling


Some one else has also written about it on flight radar forums

http://forum.flightradar24.com/threads/ ... 370/page47

Does any one have any info on it.

[aj357]

Its probably a modified NATO Raytheon Sentinel. It is an airborne battlefield and ground surveillance aircraft based on the bombardier global express. probably assisting special ops on the ground

[foxbat]

you might be true here is a part of a writeup i found on the internet

"Sentinel was originally intended for conventional war-fighting operations, to track armoured formations and conduct strategic reconnaissance tasks. However, the capability has been shown to be flexible and has been adapted for use in a number of different roles by 5(Army Cooperation) Sqn. The Sentinel’s value has been proven in support of counter-insurgency operations in Afghanistan, and in 2011 the capability provided vital Intelligence to enable coalition air assets to protect civilians from pro-Gaddafi Forces under UN Security Council Resolution 1973. Sentinel is deployed on an enduring basis, providing International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) with operational and tactical intelligence which is having a tangible effect on the success of coalition operations in Afghanistan."

from aviation week

"The UK has deployed the Sentinel R1 airborne stand-off radar aircraft to support combat operations in Afghanistan. The aircraft was officially accepted into service December 1.

Two aircraft are thought to have been sent to theater last month for a trial deployment. The Sentinel R1 will form a core element of the UK military’s intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance capability when it reaches its full operational capability (FOC). Declaration of the FOC is expected some 24-months from now

The aircraft’s synthetic aperture radar/moving target indicator (SAR/MTI) capability will provide commanders in Afghanistan with an increased surveillance capability to look for the movement of Taliban forces and monitor supply routes.

The in-service date of the Sentinel R1 has been delayed by three years as prime contractor Raytheon resolved technical problems, mainly with the aircraft’s radar.

The five Sentinel R1 aircraft, based on the Bombardier Global Express, form 5 (Army Cooperation) Squadron, with the unit stationed at RAF Waddington.

Picture Credit MoD/Crown Copyright"

[foxbat]

some more info from flightradar and the mystery is solved it is indeed Global 6000 based Sentinel r1 thanks for the headsup

Aircraft information
ModeS
43C09B
Registration
ZJ690
Type code
GLEX
Type
Bombardier Sentinel R1
S/N
9107
Airline
Royal Air Force (RAF)

[aj357]

You're welcome.

[TAILWIND]

Saw it operating out of Muscat (Oman) regulalrly in 2010-11