A British RC-135 ‘Rivet Joint’, a dedicated electronic surveillance aircraft, was once again conducting surveillance of Russian forces in occupied Ukraine.

The UK has been conducting these flights to gather intelligence about Russian forces in the area.

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.

This isn’t the first deployment of this type by any means, this has been ongoing for months now, but activity has increased recently due to the Russian invasion. The UK has been increasing the frequency of such flights over the last few months in order to gather intelligence. US aircraft are also present.

As we need to post this each time, here’s the usual disclaimer. This isn’t a new occurrence. In fact, it is pretty routine. The UK has long been gathering intelligence about Russian forces since long before the invasion of Ukraine, and 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.

British surveillance aircraft being over the area isn’t unusual, but we are seeing a significant increase in the frequency of the flights over the last few months for obvious reasons.

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.

George Allison
George Allison
George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
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46 COMMENTS

  1. Having C4ISTAR capability is more important than ever. The UK performance in this war has been phenomenal, especially considering how many people right us off as a small island that “does have an empire anymore”. The greatest compliments that can be given to us are from the Ukrainians for the support and the Russians for trying to blame us for Nord stream attack.

    RC135 has been such an assets. I only wish we still had sentinel. I’m really hoping we can get AAS for P8 at some point as a replacement.

    • Our government should be leveraging the security side of the European relationship now especially with eastern and Nordic members to sort out the cluster f**k that is Bojo’s European exit agreement. Get us back in to the single market on decent terms and add in a security dimension with a new Europe light, European Economic and Security Community.

      • “European Economic and Security Community” I don’t see the point in replicating NATO, unless the goal is to be further militarily enmeshed with France and Germany in which case: I really don’t see the point

        • The point is to get back in to the single market on our terms so we can heal the damage the brexiters did. The US door is firmly closed in our face so it’s time to reboot the European one. Our security capabilities give us leverage and we need to use it.

          • Yes however we can leverage the Ukrainian situation to open new possibilities. The EU will have to offer Ukraine and potentially Turkey something. An EEA style arrangement with limited freedom of movement could be very attractive all round especially if it’s included the UK.

            The EU was very keen for a UK security agreement before the Ukraine war. It will be very keen now especially if they see a chance for a republican white-house in 2024.

            Ukraine probably can’t join NATO but an European security framework is probably acceptable all round.

          • ‘The same people that believe this country is the greatest force for evil that has ever existed’

            In other words….a Guardianista. 😱😂

          • Uninformed outsider’s perspective: Baffled why UK does not form common cause w/ front line eastern European countries, to create a contretemps to the Machiavellian maneuvering of France and Germany. Threaten to, or actually organize, a competing organization to EU. F**k France and Germany royally, in a politically correct, socially acceptable, diplomatic manner. 🤔😉

          • The problem is Germany runs the EU. They control the purse strings. Piss off Germany and the cash starts drying up. Some states on some issues will oppose the EU but generally never. The price is to high.

          • Other things have hit the economy. The 2007/8 global recession reduced growth from 2.7% p.a. to average of 0.9% since then. Our government spent far more than most European governments to tackle Covid. Our NHS and welfare have taken ever increasing funding. But you single out Brexit for political reasons.

            What do you mean by an EU security deal? A deal with the EU on security, presumably. Should every non-EU country in Europe strike such a deal or just us? Why? We work to NATO, a properly constituted, experienced and effective military alliance. We play a part in securing the entire Euro-Atlantic area not just those countries in the EU.

          • The pandemic and Putin’s war has crippled the economy – the latter assisted by the stupid ‘dash for gas’ for electricity generation and the failure to bring on stream new nuclear plants.

          • If you are so unhappy in the UK then get in one of the many boats abandoned on the foreshore at dover and take as many of the people ashamed to be British with you.
            That might be a solution to the immigration problems. The people who do not want to be British can be swapped out for people who do.

          • Let’s ignore the result of a legal referendum and Acts of Parliament? I wasn’t happy exiting the EU, but that’s water under the bridge now. Any deal the UK had at the time has gone. They would insist on adopting the Euro, no rebate, less voting rights, no veto, joining a EU Military comnand etc. Having seen how the French have reacted, it’s going to take a lot more from both sides before there’s a chance of a rapprochement.

            Then, we have the TPP. Economist believe it’s worth a boost as much as 1% of GDP. The drop in GDP from EU membership exit is 2-2.5%. That said, most see the benefits of Brexit not filtering through until FY04-5, so the jury is out.

            The big problem is Covid knocked everything back by 24 months, plus the additional cost. Too many think all that furlough money they had for 9+ months was free. The cost of covid displaced the economy massively.

            Best laid plans and all that.

          • Wrong it was made perfectly clear to vote leave meant leaving the single market!
            you don’t seem to be taking account 2 yrs of the country shut down! Are we the only country suffering? No we are not.

          • Just BREXIT? Nope, statistics can be shown to prove any point of any argument! It’s an easy excuse for the naysayers, more to it than that!

      • I can’t imagine anything worse Jim, scarce NATO resources, shared and duplicated with the EU.

        All it will do is waste more defence money in pointless duplicating command structures and thinning resources.

        If Germany and France want to pretend they run European affairs by way of the EU, let them crack on, but NATO is the very foundation and bedrock of European defence.

        As for joining the single market, absolutely not, slippery slope there….

      • NATO is the only thing protecting the EU. Boris and Trump were both right on when they continued to criticize the EU’s lack or spending on their own defense. Germany among others have leeched off the American and UK taxpayers for many decades while getting rich from not having to provide for their own defense. I don’t see that changing anytime soon.

          • Maybe but look at the utter destruction they have done in Ukraine. NATO is deterring Pootin from trying this on the Baltics nothing to do with the EU.

          • They have seized 15 to 20% of Ukraine so let’s not be too complacent Jim. Russia has been described as our biggest threat by established experts for the last few years now. Russia has killed British citizens on British soil several times, brought Salisbury to a standstill for days if not weeks, and routinely commits cyber attacks against us.

      • We don’t need to rejoin the SM/EU to make a major contribution to European security. In case you haven’t noticed we have very significant troop numbers in Germany and Eastern Europe right now.

    • AAS is the most advanced air to surface radar in the world and would be a great addition to the Brit’s P-8As but since Britain has so few P-8s I wouldn’t hold my breath on that. They might be looking into a space based capability just like America is doing to replace their JSTARS now or even join that program at some time.

  3. It is surprising that the RAF has managed to find pilots to fly these, considering that all RAF fast jet training has been halted – as the Hawk trainers have been grounded. Because they need new engines.

    Maybe it is time that Wigston and the senior ranks of the RAF get over their obsession with wokery and start to look at what the country needs from them. Dare I suggest that we need are trained fast jet pilots? At a time when we have more F35B jets in service but not enough pilots to fly them?

    Never mind how much expensive senior management time has been spent on sacking the pilots of the Red Arrows. Wallace needs to get a grip on this, maybe the RAF has been sacking the wrong people

    • I would hazard a guess and say a converted airliner is hardly a fast jet! Is there a shortage of pilots for our transport fleet etc?

    • “Maybe it is time that Wigston and the senior ranks of the RAF get over their obsession with wokery and start to look at what the country needs from them.”

      Yes I’m sure that’s where the resources are going: pronouns.

    • I mean I’m sure you’re already aware that multi-engine or rotary wing students don’t use Hawk during their training but just in case – The Hawk is only used for fast jet training, not multi-engine or rotary wing.

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