A British RC-135 ‘Rivet Joint’, an electronic surveillance aircraft, has conducted a patrol over Romania close to the Ukraine border.

The aircraft was there to conduct electronic surveillance and gather intelligence on Russian forces inside Ukraine.

This isn’t a new occurrence; in fact, it is quite 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 happens often because it is reported often.

British surveillance aircraft being over the area isn’t unusual, but we have seen a significant increase in the frequency of the flights over the last while for obvious reasons. American assets are also present.

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.

Some general uses of the RC-135W include:

  • Signal Intelligence (SIGINT): The aircraft collects electronic signals, such as communications, radar, and other systems, to gather intelligence on adversaries’ capabilities and intentions. This information is crucial for understanding the operational environment and making well-informed decisions.
  • Support to Operations: The RC-135W has been used in various operations, such as Operation Shader, which is the UK’s contribution to the ongoing military intervention against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. The aircraft supports these operations by collecting intelligence on enemy forces, infrastructure, and strategies.
  • Strategic Deterrence: By conducting visible reconnaissance flights near areas of interest, the UK sends a clear message to potential adversaries that their activities are being closely monitored. This serves as a deterrent, helping to maintain regional stability and prevent conflicts.
  • Support to Diplomacy: Intelligence gathered by the RC-135W can play a crucial role in informing diplomatic efforts and shaping foreign policy. By providing accurate and timely information, the aircraft helps decision-makers navigate complex geopolitical situations.

The UK operates three RC-135W Rivet Joint aircraft, which are versatile and essential assets for maintaining situational awareness and supporting various military and diplomatic initiatives.

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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13 COMMENTS

  2. UKR needs more help. More shells etc. Come on NATO, supply the need. Plus we need to up our own stocks to prepare to survive ourselves.

    • We most certainly do, and by the 2030’s enough hardware to make good use of them!

      15.02.2024 @BBC NEWS

      Europe will need 10 years before it is fully ready to defend itself, the boss of Germany’s biggest defence firm, Rheinmetall, told the BBC.

      “Armin Papperger said that ammunition stocks are currently “empty”.
      He made the comments during a visit by Chancellor Olaf Scholz at a foundation-laying ceremony for a major new arms manufacturing plant in Lower Saxony.
      Defence Minister Boris Pistorius and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen were also in attendance.

      The comments come a day after comments by US presidential hopeful Donald Trump sparked fresh alarm in Europe.

      The frontrunner for the Republican nomination said he once told a world leader he would not protect Nato members who don’t pay their dues and would even “encourage” aggressors to “do whatever the hell they want”.
      The members of Nato – the North Atlantic Treaty Organization – agree that if one of them is attacked, all other nations should help it – which could include using armed force.

      Rheinmetall has said it will invest more than $300m (£274m) in the new facility. It is eventually expected to produce 200,000 rounds of artillery shells annually.
      Mr Papperger said that a “long time” would be needed to prepare against an “aggressor who wants to fight against Nato”.

      “We are fine in three, four years – but to be really prepared, we need 10 years,” he said.

      “We have to produce 1.5 million rounds [of ammunition] in Europe,” Mr Papperger added. He said a vast amount of Europe’s ammunition was sent to Ukraine, leaving little for European stocks.

      “As long as we have war, we have to help Ukraine, but later we [will] need five years at a minimum and 10 years to really fill [ammunition stocks] up,” he said.

      • The Russians are having enough trouble taking on just the Ukrainians. Even with depleted stocks, I can’t imagine that the UK, France, Germany, Poland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Belgium, and the rest of the NATO contingent having any issues taking on a Russian assault. It would be suicide on the Russian’s part, one in which they’d have to resort to tactical nukes rather quickly, in which case our reserves of conventional munitions is moot.

        • “that ammunition stocks are currently “empty” A very short war then.

          No need to panic eh.

          Thales Nederland triples radar production15 February 2024

          Thales Nederland has tripled its radar production over the last few years, Janes learnt while attending the company’s handover of the first Ground Master 200 Multi Mission/Compact (GM200 MM/C) radar to the Royal Netherlands Army (RNLA) in Hengelo, Eastern Netherlands, on 14 February.

          The increase is in the production of both land-based and naval radars, and the GM200 MM/C is a case in point, with the Netherlands having placed the first order for nine of the radars mounted on Scania Gryphus trucks in 2019.

          • Russia most definitely has its hands full with just Ukraine. Even resorting to national mobilisation. And even that has not secured victory. It has failed on every front. It cannot secure air superiority, and it has lost more warships to a nation that doesn’t even really have a Navy. That’s the reality of Russia. Its biggest theat is nuclear weapons. And political disinformation. NATO does need to up its game. But it’s a generations old tactic to big up the threats to secure more defence spending and its gold dust for defence industries.

          • Yep. The Pentagon did it in the 80s, exaggerating the Soviet threat to secure more funds for them and the MIC.

        • Clearly, we and other European nations do not have to increase defence spending as theirs nothing for us to worry about. Cancel operation Steadfast Defender. 👍🇬🇧

          “20 of the 27 EU Member States increased defence expenditure, with six increasing spending by over 10%. Sweden (+30.1%), Luxembourg (+27.9%), Lithuania (27.6%), Spain (19.3%), Belgium (14.8%) and Greece (13.3%) recorded the highest increases in overall expenditure among the EU 27.30”

          30 November 2023

          Record high European defence spending boosted by procurement of new equipment
          https://

          eda.europa.eu/news-and-events/news/2023/11/30/record-high-european-defence-spending-boosted-by-procurement-of-new-equipment

  3. To some extent OT, but still w/in ISRT universe, Orcs have evidently recently developed and deployed a next gen ASAT capability. Always better to hold the high ground. Presumably details re this development will leak to the US press relatively quickly. Significant proportion of Congress is proclaiming that there is “no imminent danger” and the sky is indeed not falling at maximum volume (probably before fleeing to fallout shelters). Appears that we live during interesting times. Anyone remember the complete lyrics of the song which includes the following: “don’t worry, be happy”…🤔😉

      • Hmmm…speculation now that the ASAT weapon is/will be a nuke. Very interesting. Presume treaty re nuke weapons in space is now invalid/suspended/terminated. Wonder whether a crash program to develop orbital nukes will become an initiative w/in AUKUS Pillar 2? 🤔

        • Ummm…er…a new alternative account states that the ASAT is under development, but not yet deployed. Further, that it may be a nuke, or simply nuclear powered. Basically, it is now a no-holds-barred, anything goes, account of what has, or may occur in the future.
          🤔🙄

          Bottom line, dunno, watch this space for further details which may or may not be correct. 🤔🙄😁

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