Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022, has occasionally spilled into neighboring NATO countries, such as Romania, and its long‑range aviation and drone attacks in Ukraine have repeatedly prompted allied air‑policing and monitoring missions.

Moscow launched another deadly attack on a Ukrainian city less than 50 miles from the border with Poland - forcing NATO to scramble fighter jets in a bid to protect the country's airspace

NATO war jets have been forced to scramble after Vladimir Putin unleashed a terrifying drone strike on Odesa. It comes as hopes of ending the gruelling conflict continue to falter after

Business Insider flew aboard the decades-old aircraft during a recent surveillance mission. NATO plans to replace the E-3 in the coming years.

Captain Mark Lawrence, commodore of Destroyer Squadron Two and sea combat commander aboard the Gerald R. Ford, told U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa on Sunday: "Our collective surface force's transit into the North Sea reaffirms our resolve to enhance peace, stability and deterrence across the European continent."