A Royal Air Force RC-135 surveillance aircraft was deployed today to monitor Russian forces in occupied Ukraine.
The RC-135W Rivet Joint and its sensors are designed to undertake ‘signals intelligence’ missions. In other words, they ‘soak up’ electronic emissions from communications, radars and other systems.
The RAF said in a release:
“The UK has become the first nation to conduct a full transit of NATO’ eastern border, from its southernmost point in Greece to the most northerly point in Finland. The RAF Rivet Joint completed the flight with support from NATO partners, including the US, Sweden and Finland.
This is a landmark of a moment. While the Rivet Joint conducts routine transits along the borders of individual NATO countries, this is the first complete transit of NATO’s eastern border.”
This isn’t entirely new
Watching the border isn’t new—in fact, it is quite routine, its the duration of the flight that’s new here. The UK has been gathering intelligence about Russian forces since long before the invasion of Ukraine.
It should be noted that these flights are designed to be visible so that the public and Russia know they’re happening. If it were a secret, I would not know. Also, for those remarking, ‘this isn’t new’, that’s right, but people only know this often happens because it is reported often.
What does the RC-135W do?
According to the Royal Air Force website, the RC-135W Rivet Joint is a dedicated electronic surveillance aircraft that can be employed in all theatres on strategic and tactical missions. Its sensors ‘soak up’ electronic emissions from communications, radar and other systems.
“RC-135W Rivet Joint employs multidiscipline Weapons System Officer (WSO) and Weapons System Operator (WSOp) specialists whose mission is to survey elements of the electromagnetic spectrum in order to derive intelligence for commanders.”
The Royal Air Force say that Rivet Joint has been deployed extensively for Operation Shader and on other operational taskings. It had been formally named Airseeker, but is almost universally known in service as the RC-135W Rivet Joint.
The UK operates three of these aircraft.
And STILL it cannot be refuelled without the assistance of the USAF.
Neither can the P8 or the E7s when they arrive.
The Air Tanker contract is 100% corruption. People should be in jail over it.
I don’t know the background to this but why doesn’t the Defence minister or PM do something about it? Is it strictly a contract of supply issue? Can aircraft have dual probes or a multi-probe to be able to refuel from different types of tankers?
Morning D3. Multi engine a/c apart, most (note, I said most) NATO fighter jets have a probe, whilst some can do boom refueling also. So not really a problem there. As Robert said, below, “Allied aircraft from all NATO nations use tankers from other nations all the time”.
The UK E-3Ds were able to use both boom and probe refuellers
No. Its deliving a very capable tanker/transport service with very high aircraft availability and operational flexibility. Way better than anything we could do with the VC10/Tristar fleet.
Thing is mate. Operationally. Its not a big deal. Allied aircraft from all NATO nations use tankers from other nations all the time. The US Navy is heavily reliant on Voyagers and VC10’s/Tristars before them in the Gulf regions and anyway else the RAF and US Navy are operating alongside each other. At large exercises like Red Flags. All participants use US, RAF, French, Canadian tankers ect all the time. These are NATO/Allied agreements. All part of the same team. Especially when we have a bunch of USAF tankers residing in the UK at Mildenhall. It would be nice if Voyager could do it. But it’s not limiting operational capability.
Whilst true it does mean we cannot use these aircraft in combat without the Americans (unless they land for fuel) but that might now be an academic point because we probably don’t have the armed forces to go it alone now anyway
I think 99% of operations would always be with allies.
I don’t think we would be involved in any conflicts on our own. Every single one since since 90/91 has been as part of a allied force.
Morning mate. And if we had a national operation like the Falklands again those assets would be limited.
Sure, I know the USN use Probe and Drogue like we do, very handy if your there with allies.
The US also have countless other assets. We don’t.
Just seems daft to me that our large aircraft are not compatible with the AAR system we use.
Other higher priorities I’m sure.
I think the powers that be are willing to take that risk. And i think we both know the chances of a 2nd Falklands war is very, very slim.
I’m not sure we could operate a second Falklands anyway, with a task force of 4 frigates, 2 destroyers around a carrier.
I think we could. It’s amazing what money and resources are available in a national emergency. Plus we have capabilities we could only of dreamed of back in 82.
Agree.
Agreed and very well put, and don’t forget the NATO MRTT Tanker Force which is growing to become a very powerful capability in similar vein to the NATO AWACS Force.
When does the Air Tanker contract expire? Boom capability would seem to be a rational additional requirement for a contract recompete/extension. 🤔
I do not know off hand.
Not really sure how this is groundbreaking. An aircraft flew from A to B. If we had more…
It’s not mentioned, but one hopes that a couple of Typhoons were riding shotgun on this sortie so close to the war zone. Especially as the Russians have form for trying to shoot down this sort of asset over the Black Sea
There’s no need to, as you can see from the ADSB track the jet was over NATO territory for almost the entire sortie, the only exception being for a few miles over the Gulf of Finland, and then presumably over the North Sea on the way back. Not even the Russians are stupid enough to try to shoot a NATO aircraft down over NATO territory. Plus, they generally keep their more competent crews on the border, so less chance of a screwup.
Ummm…not certain Mad Vlad and the Orcs should be credited w/ a nominal IQ assessment. 🤔😉😁
Does anyone know why all the posts about this flight have now been taken down? Seems a bit odd?
Does anyone know why all of the RAF’s social media posts on this flight have now been removed? Seems a bit odd.