An Italian Air Force Gulfstream E.550 CAEW (reg. MM62303), was tracked today on a patrol flight over Lithuania. The aircraft, identified by the flight code IAM1495, conducted several circuits in the area, as shown by the flight path on Flightradar24.
The CAEW took off on May 20, 2024, at 7:03 UTC, maintaining a constant altitude of 39,000 feet and a cruising speed of about 390 knots. The route followed by the Gulfstream E550 CAEW involved a series of repeated circuits over the central region of Lithuania, highlighting an extended aerial surveillance mission.
The CAEW is an advanced reconnaissance and early warning aircraft designed for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) operations. Equipped with state-of-the-art radar and communication systems, this aircraft can monitor large areas and collect critical data on air and ground movements.
The presence of an Italian surveillance aircraft in Lithuania underscores the strategic importance of the Baltic region in the context of European security. Lithuania, bordering Belarus and near the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad, is a key point for NATO monitoring and deterrence operations in the region. The mission of the Gulfstream G550 AEW could be part of a routine operation to ensure the air and maritime security of NATO member countries.