British RC-135 electronic surveillance aircraft continue to operate over the Black Sea near Crimea, tracking Russian forces.
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.
https://twitter.com/geoallison/status/1562419880649015296
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.
I see a US KC-135, c/s ROOK23, is in the same area – possibly refuelling the RAF Rivet.
Change in flight today, flew from WAD to Romania did AAR rather than over North Sea, wonder how much long on station that will give them?
Thank goodness the Brits bought a few of the Rivet Joints. Putting them to good use now and taking some pressure off the American ones flying there, near China and the Middle East.
It does seem that NATO survalliance assets have made a significant impact on the war, especially as Russia is reluctant to shoot them down.
The strange thing though is Russia was meant to ahfe similar capability but again it appears to have be next to useless in reality.
That is Russia’s problem in a nutshell Steve: Reality.
Some heads need to roll in miltiary intelligence. The west clearly got it badly wrong in their assessments and lessons need to be learnt, but it won’t happen.
The same mistakes could result in us massively underestimating a future opponent.
They did the same to us in BAOR during the 70s and 80s with 3rd Shock Army in east Germany ready to destroy us in days. I bet now they could not have done it even in months.
Its hard to know how much of the failure has come down to top attack NLAW/javlin, turning the heavily armoured tanks into deathtraps.
I am really curious. The recent news of Russia wanting to increase its miltiary personnel by another hundred thousand reported they had over a million service men currently. They have committed around 200k to Ukraine, where on earth are the other 800k. Surely if they existed, Russia would send them forward considering how badly it’s going both militarily and reputationally.
Good question Steve, I’m a few decades behind the times regarding Russian military organisation. However, it is likely still the same as the old system during the USSR days. Know your enemy. They have A, B, C and D class regiments. A are the currently serving troops, with front line equipment and the best training. Full time officers and some permanent NCO’s bolstered by 2 year conscripts. B would be recently released conscripts called back for minimal refreshers every year. C class and D class are troops who have not trained for ten or twenty years! The numbers of Russian… Read more »
Whilst i know there is no comparison between the levels of corruption between the two countries, but the west is no stranger to it either. Just look at the PPE corruption, it was amazing what percentage of the money vanished to corruption and i am sure that is nothing new. It was just that during a period of national crisis, where the whole nation eyes were on them, the PMs were too self-important/didn’t care (or maybe even do the right thing) to try and cover it up properly. I also don’t think its just this government. Makes me wonder how… Read more »
Hi Steve, no comparison at all. Western democracy is far from perfect. That said, we have had hundreds of years tweaking the system. With laws, checks and balances to try keeping corruption as low as possible. Fraud, embezzlement etc are crimes under the law. By comparison communist countries share huge levels of corruption. Be they CCP China, Cuba, Venezuela, North Korea, Laos or Vietnam. Corruption and the black markets, are actually vital to the functioning of communist states. As are all manner of schemes to attract foreign currency and making it near impossible for their people to leave. I actually… Read more »
All tru dat but let’s not sugar coat reality Ukrainian society is a steaming pile of corruption aswell. Transparency Internationals 2021 Corruption Perceptions Index shows Ukraine as 122 on the list making them the 2nd most corrupt nation in Europe with their Russian ex pals as the most corrupt 136 on the list. like I’ve stated before 😁both nations are rotten to the core and the bizarre cheerleading for Ukraine by the mob in here is well bizarre like they are beacons of fairness compassion and democracy all of which couldn’t be further from the truth. No wonder Ukraine (political… Read more »
I think you mean thank goodness we replaced the Nimrod R1 fleet. Its a capability we could not afford to loose.
Agreed. It’s not as if we lacked the capability.
Anybody seen this article on the BBC regarding the Red Arrows?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-62664654
Very concerning.
Yeah I heard about it going down in aircraft numbers this year. So pilot being a bell end and there’s not enough time to train up a replacement. 7 will still put on a good show.
Wish they would just get on a buy them some hawk T2. Then it’s safe for next 20 years.
Yes, I was at the Eastbourne air show last weekend and they were only flying a 7-ship.
They can only be refuelled by KC135s or a boomer tanker.
Quite easy to see on Flight apps, almost daily, Black Sea, Baltic and North Cape is the normal operating areas. Although the USAF use Drones alot now!
If anything can justify upgrading the voyagers to be able to do both methods of refueling, then this war should be it. It won’t happen but clearly shows we are over reliant on allies covering gaps.