RAF ‘nuke sniffer’ jet conducts first EVER mission along Nato’s Russia border to ‘soak up’ intel on Putin’s forces --[Reported by Umva mag]

AN RAF jet that can “soak up” intel made history by flying the full length of NATO’s border for the first time ever. The milestone journey was undertaken by the advanced RC-135W Rivet Joint aircraft, operating with the support of NATO and international partners. Royal Air ForceThe RAF Rivet Joint flew the full length of NATO’s eastern border[/caption] Wikimedia CommonsThe British spy plane flew from the southernmost point in Greece to the northern reaches of Finland[/caption] The incredible flight saw the aircraft soar above the southernmost point in Greece as well as taking to the skies in the northern reaches of Finland. RC-135W Rivet Joint is a dedicated electronic surveillance aircraft that can be employed in all theatres on strategic and tactical missions. The jet and its sensors are designed to undertake “signals intelligence” missions. And it is understood that these sensors can even “soak up” electronic emissions from communications, radar and other systems. The flight was deployed to monitor Russian forces along the border in occupied Ukraine. Powered by four CFM International F108-CF-201 turbofan engines, the plane can reach speeds of 870 km/h and has an operational range of 6,500 km. The successful flight saw the UK become the first country to complete a full transit of NATO’s eastern border. This achievement marks a pivotal moment for British air power and shows the Armed Forces’ unwavering commitment to the NATO alliance. The Royal Air Force said: “The UK has become the first nation to conduct a full transit of Nato’s eastern border, from its southernmost point in Greece to the most northerly point in Finland. “The RAF Rivet Joint completed the flight with support from NATO partners including the US, Sweden and Finland. This is a landmark moment. “While the Rivet Joint conducts routine transits along the borders of individual Nato countries, this is the first complete transit of Nato’s eastern border. “The UK’s commitment to Nato is unshakeable.” The RC-135W Rivet Joint is operated by highly skilled specialists, including Multidiscipline Weapons System Officers (WSOs) and Weapons System Operators (WSOps). Their mission is to monitor the electromagnetic spectrum and gather critical intelligence for commanders. These professionals play a crucial role in ensuring our forces remain well-informed and prepared to counter any potential threats. The Rivet Joint replaced a fleet of three BAe Nimrod R.Mk 1s, which flew their final sortie in June 2011, after a 37-year association with the type. The new aircraft was more optimised for COMINT than the Nimrod R, which had a formidable reputation for excellence in the ELINT role. The three RAF Rivet Joints are managed as an extension of the USAF’s Rivet Joint fleet, undergoing the same programme of sensor and system upgrades, ensuring that they remain at the cutting edge of capability. No.51 Squadron took delivery of the UK’s first Rivet Joint on November 2013, and flew the type’s maiden operational sortie on May 23, 2014. The second aircraft arrived in August 2015 and the third in June 2017. Originally expected to be named Airseeker, and procured under Project Airseeker, the aircraft are universally known as Rivet Joints – their USAF name. It comes after a Russian fighter jet tried to shoot down a British spy plane off the coast of Ukraine carrying 30 crew members. The pilot of the Su-27 fighter jet fired two missiles at the British jet last September after he thought he had permission, it has emerged. At the time Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said that the unarmed RAF Rivet Joint was on routine patrol in international airspace when it was tailed by two Russian Su-27 fighter jets. During the 90-minute interaction, one of the jets fired two missiles near the RAF plane. The first one missed the target rather than malfunctioning – Moscow had blamed the missile launch on a “technical malfunction.” Royal Air ForceThe groundbreaking moment saw the UK make history as the first country to do so[/caption]

Oct 14, 2024 - 13:54

RAF ‘nuke sniffer’ jet conducts first EVER mission along Nato’s Russia border to ‘soak up’ intel on Putin’s forces --[Reported by Umva mag]

AN RAF jet that can “soak up” intel made history by flying the full length of NATO’s border for the first time ever.

The milestone journey was undertaken by the advanced RC-135W Rivet Joint aircraft, operating with the support of NATO and international partners.

a plane with the word united on the side of it

The RAF Rivet Joint flew the full length of NATO’s eastern border[/caption]

a royal air force plane is flying in the sky

The British spy plane flew from the southernmost point in Greece to the northern reaches of Finland[/caption] a map showing the raf rivet joint flight route

a map showing the raf rivet joint flight route

The incredible flight saw the aircraft soar above the southernmost point in Greece as well as taking to the skies in the northern reaches of Finland.

RC-135W Rivet Joint is a dedicated electronic surveillance aircraft that can be employed in all theatres on strategic and tactical missions.

The jet and its sensors are designed to undertake “signals intelligence” missions.

And it is understood that these sensors can even “soak up” electronic emissions from communications, radar and other systems.

The flight was deployed to monitor Russian forces along the border in occupied Ukraine.

Powered by four CFM International F108-CF-201 turbofan engines, the plane can reach speeds of 870 km/h and has an operational range of 6,500 km.

The successful flight saw the UK become the first country to complete a full transit of NATO’s eastern border.

This achievement marks a pivotal moment for British air power and shows the Armed Forces’ unwavering commitment to the NATO alliance.

The Royal Air Force said: “The UK has become the first nation to conduct a full transit of Nato’s eastern border, from its southernmost point in Greece to the most northerly point in Finland.

“The RAF Rivet Joint completed the flight with support from NATO partners including the US, Sweden and Finland. This is a landmark moment.

“While the Rivet Joint conducts routine transits along the borders of individual Nato countries, this is the first complete transit of Nato’s eastern border.

“The UK’s commitment to Nato is unshakeable.”

The RC-135W Rivet Joint is operated by highly skilled specialists, including Multidiscipline Weapons System Officers (WSOs) and Weapons System Operators (WSOps).

Their mission is to monitor the electromagnetic spectrum and gather critical intelligence for commanders.

These professionals play a crucial role in ensuring our forces remain well-informed and prepared to counter any potential threats.

The Rivet Joint replaced a fleet of three BAe Nimrod R.Mk 1s, which flew their final sortie in June 2011, after a 37-year association with the type.

The new aircraft was more optimised for COMINT than the Nimrod R, which had a formidable reputation for excellence in the ELINT role.

The three RAF Rivet Joints are managed as an extension of the USAF’s Rivet Joint fleet, undergoing the same programme of sensor and system upgrades, ensuring that they remain at the cutting edge of capability.

No.51 Squadron took delivery of the UK’s first Rivet Joint on November 2013, and flew the type’s maiden operational sortie on May 23, 2014.

The second aircraft arrived in August 2015 and the third in June 2017.

Originally expected to be named Airseeker, and procured under Project Airseeker, the aircraft are universally known as Rivet Joints – their USAF name.

It comes after a Russian fighter jet tried to shoot down a British spy plane off the coast of Ukraine carrying 30 crew members.

The pilot of the Su-27 fighter jet fired two missiles at the British jet last September after he thought he had permission, it has emerged.

At the time Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said that the unarmed RAF Rivet Joint was on routine patrol in international airspace when it was tailed by two Russian Su-27 fighter jets.

During the 90-minute interaction, one of the jets fired two missiles near the RAF plane.

The first one missed the target rather than malfunctioning – Moscow had blamed the missile launch on a “technical malfunction.”

a plane is being refueled by a tanker that says rh on it

The groundbreaking moment saw the UK make history as the first country to do so[/caption]

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