16/02/2021 (Agence Europe) – NATO declared, on Monday 15 February, the Alliance’s AGS RQ-4D remotely piloted aircraft initially operationally ready to conduct missions. “These are among the world’s most advanced reconnaissance drones, providing world-class intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance to the Alliance”, said Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. The Allied Ground Surveillance (AGS) capability enables NATO to perform persistent surveillance over wide areas from high-altitude long-endurance aircraft, operating at considerable distances and in any weather or light condition, says an Alliance statement. Using advanced radar sensors, these systems will continuously detect and track moving objects and will provide radar imagery of areas of interest and stationary objects. The plane will be remotely piloted from Sigonella, Sicily. (CG)