A Royal Air Power RC-135 surveillance plane was deployed at this time to observe Russian forces in occupied Ukraine.
The RC-135W Rivet Joint and its sensors are designed to undertake ‘indicators intelligence’ missions. In different phrases, they ‘take in’ digital emissions from communications, radars and different methods.
The plane took off from RAF Waddington and was refuelled by a U.S. air tanker earlier than continuing to the Black Sea through the Netherlands, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania.
This isn’t a brand new incidence; in truth, it’s fairly routine. The UK has been gathering intelligence about Russian forces since lengthy earlier than the invasion of Ukraine.
It ought to be famous that these flights are designed to be seen in order that the general public and Russia know they’re taking place. If it had been a secret, I’d not know. Additionally, for these remarking, ‘this isn’t new’, that’s proper, however individuals solely know this usually occurs as a result of it’s reported usually.
What does the RC-135W do?
In accordance with the Royal Air Power web site, the RC-135W Rivet Joint is a devoted digital surveillance plane that may be employed in all theatres on strategic and tactical missions. Its sensors ‘take in’ digital emissions from communications, radar and different methods.
“RC-135W Rivet Joint employs multidiscipline Weapons System Officer (WSO) and Weapons System Operator (WSOp) specialists whose mission is to survey parts of the electromagnetic spectrum with a view to derive intelligence for commanders.”
The Royal Air Power says that Rivet Joint has been deployed extensively for Operation Shader and on different operational taskings. It had been formally named Airseeker, however is sort of universally recognized in service because the RC-135W Rivet Joint. The UK operates three of those plane.