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.
A British RC-135 'Rivet Joint', a dedicated electronic surveillance aircraft, has again conducted a patrol over the Black Sea in order to monitor Russian forces. pic.twitter.com/IkeQ7lHhz1
— UK Defence Journal (@UKDefJournal) August 12, 2024
This isn’t new
This isn’t a new occurrence—in fact, it is quite routine. 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.
Ha. I’m first again ! anyway, not having ever served, I thought I might add that these Rivet joints are based upon the C-135 Stratolifter from 1961, which is some 6 years older than the Nimrod and have failed to be demolished by bulldozers, wrecking balls or Governments ever since.
63 Years and counting, it makes you wonder how they do it. 🤔
The 3 we have which got converted into Rivet Joints are I belive the youngest of the KC135 fleet.
Correct!
Ahh, so they must have Titanium Rivets then !
Interestingly, this aircraft was once offered as a replacement for the RB-50 Super Dooper Fortress. A Bomber.
If you look back we did the NIMROD project to death a few times. There are some interesting comments.
The real problem was that each frame would have had its own type certificate as each one was different. Haddon Cave wasn’t a thing at the start of the project but was by the end of it.
So future upgrades would have been a nightmare.
Then the issue of flight controls was still to be fully solved….
The problem was that it was an open ended money pit.
The bit that did work fine was the electronics.
Mate, You’ll not remember (as i can’t remember all my previous names on here since the beginning and a few bans along the way) but We have had some epic exchanges about Nimrod here for ages. Just like C’s &T’s on QE’s, Numbers of T45’s, Typhoons, T23’s and any amount of other subjects. You are one of a handful of regulars I’ve never disagreed with ( well not to any real degree !) If I ever held a party for fellow armchair warriors, you and DM would be on the top table. Gunbuster on security, ADC Rodney as speaker, FormerUSAF… Read more »
Wiki has a multi-paragraph description of the RC-135W River Joint (Project Airseeker) Programme, including development and utilization, for those who may be interested.
… Rivet…(🙄 freakin’ autocorrect 🤬)
Rivet, Rivet, you have a Frog in your auto correct !!!!
😁
I have seen this a few times over the years, It’s a great place for info.
Typically, for me, I find the supporting organisation for this far more interesting than the actual aircraft!😜
You need to get out more !!!!
I need to get out more !
In fact I think we all need to get out more. !!!! I was up early reading the tirade and ever so angry comments regarding the Ireland Article, It was epic and typical great entertainment but rightly so, the vast majority of comments were removed a few hours later !
Still, It was nice to see a few new or dormant accounts being activated. 😁
Oh, I missed that.
Some rather unsavoury comments and non pc views mostly.
Recent Ukrainian youtuber Denys Davydov reported amongst all the updates that UKR has had two costly failed assaults on the Kinbourne peninsula, south across the Dneiper-Bug estuary. The objective he said was to open up safe passage up the Bug as well as liberating occupied UKR territory.
Hopefully still being escorted everywhere they go by typhoon and with AWACS top cover.
The flights are important to feed intelligence to Ukraine of Russia’s armed forces response to their counter attack into the Kursk region.
ha That flew over the hotel I was staying at