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US Air Force plane Rivet Joint – a surveillance aircraft – has been detected taking off from Britain after the chilling move by the Kremlin.
The converted transport plane is designed to wage electronic warfare, monitor signals and carry out spying missions.
Banks of computers and sensors fill out its fuselage, which is crewed by 30 spooks and engineers.
Russia confirmed this week it is moving Iskander missiles into its enclave of Kaliningrad.
NATO leaders called the weapons a “threat” to Europe, an allegation that was rubbished by Putin.
“This is not just a threat to Lithuania, but to half of all European countries”
Lithuanian president Dalia Grybauskaite
Exact details of the plane’s capabilities are highly classified – but the US has six of the aircraft in its fleet.
The 580mph, 140ft long planes are capable of “frying” enemy communications systems and have previously been used to fight ISIS.
The aircraft took off this morning from RAF Mildenhall and is expected to fly along Europe’s border with Russia.
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Kaliningrad is a heavily militarised Russian enclave sandwiched between Poland and Lithuania.
Short-range nuclear capable missiles were moved into the region this week, with Lithuanian spies claiming they are to be stationed there “permanently”.
Soldiers, tanks, and warships all move throughout the 6,000 square mile area which is one of most strategically key in all of Europe.
Putin has lashed out at the US over recent spy plane flights near Russia, demanding Washington back down.
Russia and NATO remain at loggerheads, both accusing the other of aggression and sending forces to their borders under the pretext of defence.
There are fears Moscow could be eyeing further land grabs across his borders since the annexation of Crimea in 2014.
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The US warned this week Russia is boosting its nuclear arsenal – along with China and North Korea.
Putin has been accused of plotting a “huge war” with Europe, and Britain’s top general warned Russia is now a “clear and present danger”.
Moscow has constantly denied any aggressive ambitions, but warned it will respond if provoked by the West.