Key facts
- The Atlantique 2 was initially deployed to Romania until November 6 and will now stay several weeks longer.
- The commander said the aircraft detected the three sea drones that sank the Contship Jet on October 28.
- The commander said the aircraft can detect threats but cannot neutralize or intercept drones.
- NATO said it committed more than $40 billion to counter-drone capabilities over five years.
- Russia has denied targeting Ukraine's neighbors, according to the report.
France has extended the stay of an Atlantique 2 maritime patrol aircraft at Romania's Mihail Kogalniceanu air base by several weeks, the aircraft's commander said on November 5, 2026. The plane had initially been deployed to Romania until November 6. France relocated it there on October 18 after NATO members Romania and Bulgaria asked the alliance for reinforcements following a series of deadly strikes on merchant ships in the Black Sea.
The Atlantique 2 is designed to detect submarines, warships and small threats including sea drones and mines. "The Atlantique 2 presence will be maintained for a few weeks from now on. We are here to ensure the safety of navigation of the commercial traffic in the Black Sea," said the commander, whose identity the French naval forces withheld for security purposes. "We are a surveillance aircraft," the commander said. "We are able to detect. We are not able to neutralise and intercept these kind of drones."
At least nine cargo ships were hit near the coast of Romania and Bulgaria in October, with some 34 sailors reported dead or missing. The aircraft detected the three sea drones that struck and sank the Greek-owned container vessel Contship Jet in Bulgaria's exclusive economic zone on October 28. The commander said Bulgarian authorities and the vessel were notified an hour before the drones struck, enabling the crew to come away unscathed.
NATO said this week that the alliance had committed to investing more than $40 billion in counter-drone capabilities in the next five years. It said its commitment to defending all its members, including those on the Black Sea, was "ironclad." Russia has denied targeting Ukraine's neighbours, according to the report.