Originally Posted by
Doctor Cruces
Can't see any of the fighters or other stuff that the tankers are there for though. I would suggest that NATO want the Russians to know they're there.
Occasionally one or two pop up, like the USAF F-35A that did a tour of Poland a week or so back. Which I suspect was entirely intentional.
Similarly, it's not uncommon to see RAF Typhoons on ADSB coming out of Cyprus, but for the transponder to be turned off as they turn north. And these large tanker aircraft aren't flying oblongs around Eastern Europe for nothing.
I think the general public, and indeed some of the 'enthusiast' community, have no idea about what may or may not be useful. Anyone who has served in the military is steeped in the idea that information is kept confidential and compartmentalised, not just 'no need to know' but 'no need to share'. The reason there was a need for the 'Careless Talk Costs Lifes' campaign is that most outside the Forces 'bubble' don't appreciate what OPSEC involves.