The Italian website ItamilRadar has revealed that a NATO drone, the Northrop Grumman RQ-4D Phoenix, carried out an extended aerial patrol mission off the Libyan coast.
Describing the mission as “unusual,” the website noted this was a noteworthy development following several months of absence from the radar for this type of aircraft.
According to the report, the drone took off in the morning from Sigonella Air Base in Sicily, initially heading toward the Black Sea. However, after entering Greek airspace, it began a series of circular flight patterns, which the site suggests may indicate a technical malfunction. Nevertheless, the aircraft continued its mission until it reached the Black Sea.
Shortly after entering the area, the drone transmitted an emergency “7600” squawk code—indicating a loss of radio communication—prompting the mission to be aborted and the drone to return to Sicily.
While flying back over the Mediterranean, it appeared the issue had been resolved, as the aircraft abruptly changed course southward and began a new reconnaissance mission off the Libyan coast.
The site also pointed out that this mission coincided with a separate, lengthy operation conducted by a US Navy MQ-4C Triton drone over Libya, calling the parallel missions particularly interesting.
