A Royal Air Force RC-135 ‘Rivet Joint’ intelligence gathering aircraft has been operating in international airspace near the headquarters of the Russian Northern Fleet.

The aircraft, tail number ‘ZZ664’ and flying under ‘RRR7255’ departed the UK earlier today before heading north.

The aircraft was refuelled over the North Sea by a U.S. Air Force KC-135 out of RAF Mildenhall before flying over Norway and then down to the Kola Peninsula, just off Murmansk.

This isn’t a new occurrence. In fact, these flights are 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 often happens because it is reported often. Why are we reporting this? Well, aside from the above, it’s important for people to see that aircraft like this are in near-constant use rather than gathering dust in a hangar.

It should be noted, by the way, that the aircraft is in international airspace. The West does this to Russia, and Russia does this to the West.

FILE PHOTO: RAF RC-135 touches down.

What does the RC-135W do?

According to the Royal Air Force website, the RC-135W Rivet Joint is a dedicated ‘signals intelligence’ 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.

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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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DRS
DRS
1 year ago

I guess the rivets sqwak else you can’t tracks this on ADS mode B on flight radar etc. Do the Bears sqwak at all or we just track the radar return plus QRA so we know where they are.

Coll
Coll
1 year ago
Reply to  DRS

I can see it on the site I use.

Last edited 1 year ago by Coll
Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
1 year ago
Reply to  DRS

I’ve read here they turn their transponders off, not great behaviour with our bust airspace.

Steve
Steve
1 year ago

There was a story a year or so ago about the RN/RAF giving fake tracking data to hide what they were up to. Its not just the Russians that are upto playing silly git when it suits their interests.

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
1 year ago
Reply to  Steve

Course not. Where did the RAFRN do that? Are there civilian air corridors amongst where the RAF turns it’s transponders off? A Rivet Joint on the peripheries of Russia with few air movements around it seems a little different to a Bear over the Atlantic air lanes and even apparently the Channel.

Steve
Steve
1 year ago

Whilst I agree it’s unlikely they were operating commercial air routes, we have no idea where they were as the whole point of faking the locator info is to hide the true location.

Monkey spanker
Monkey spanker
1 year ago

Sniff sniff

Posse Comitatus
Posse Comitatus
1 year ago

Off topic, but as if further proof were needed that Kremlin statements are a masterclass in self delusion, Sky News reported the following today from Russia’s military expo Earlier today, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow was ready to arm its allies across Asia, Africa and Latin America. Speaking at Russia’s annual military expo, he also stressed the advantages of training foreign soldiers in his country and doing joint military exercises. “We also see great prospects in the training of foreign servicemen and their advanced training,” Mr Putin said. “Thousands of military professionals from around the world are proud alumnus… Read more »

RobW
RobW
1 year ago

I saw that too, hilarious stuff. How do they keep a straight face?

David Steeper
David Steeper
1 year ago

It might be routine but it’s still important. I hope we or the USAF have got one ready for Kherson region over the next couple of weeks or so. The Russians have got 25.000 troops cut off from re-supply north of there. The airwaves are going to get busy when the Russian troops start running out of diesel, bullets and shells. 😎

Peter tattersll
Peter tattersll
1 year ago

On rust watch

Spyinthesky
Spyinthesky
1 year ago

Didn’t you hear, Putin claims their illustrious weapons are years and in some cases decades ahead of the West. I wonder if anyone sniffing around that show actually believes the sales pitch. Perhaps all these weapons are being presented as kamikaze weapons deliberately built to self destruct to confuse the enemy.

Spyinthesky
Spyinthesky
1 year ago

Just read the Ruskies have claimed they have chased this aircraft out of their airspace. I assume the tracking apps show otherwise. Hope it’s not a set up to cause a future incident however.

Jacko
Jacko
1 year ago
Reply to  Spyinthesky

I would think that they would not risk going anywhere near entering Orc airspace! As for their claims mmmm?

Spyinthesky
Spyinthesky
1 year ago
Reply to  Spyinthesky

(Set up by the Russians to make it clear)

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
1 year ago

Ouch. Right down the Kola to the White Sea, I can see why they’d be a bit touchy given the facilities in that area.

SR71s used to go further east as far as Novaya Zemlya, then turn and return the same way, they could not get close though a M31 pilot reckoned he could have had missile lock.

The DIS must have lots of great photos taken by the crews of Russian intercepting aircraft, would love to see them.

Barry Larking
Barry Larking
1 year ago

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.

To be seen is the point of this activity. The main effort made to gather intelligence happens elsewhere and is every hour of the day and night.

Just how much Putin’s ‘special operation’ has led to the disaffected among his long suffering ‘people’ tipping masses of material in the west’s collective lap is unknowable, fortunately.

Last edited 1 year ago by Barry Larking