Image shows an RAF Rivet Joint RC-135W signals intelligence aircraft taking off from RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire. This file is licensed under the Open Government Licence version 1.0 (OGL v1.0). By Sgt Si Pugsley RAF/MOD
On November 12, an advanced RC-135W Rivet Joint reconnaissance aircraft of the Royal Air Force (RAF) was spotted by aviation observers while conducting an unusual mission over the Eastern Mediterranean.
The large reconnaissance aircraft flew off the coast of Syria and Lebanon for more than five hours, before departing to its home base. The aircraft was most likely spying on Russia’s main bases on the Syrian coast, Hmeimim Air Base and Tartus Naval Base, and possibly on positions of Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Returned after 5 hours of eavesdropping and gathering information about air defenses. pic.twitter.com/aEJ9PI5OZ3
— Intelsky (@Intel_sky) November 12, 2021
The RC-135W was originally developed for the US Air Force by a number of companies, including General Dynamics, Lockheed, LTV, E-Systems and L3 Technologies. The aircraft is equipped to detect, identify and geolocat signals throughout the electromagnetic spectrum.
The United Kingdom bought three old KC-135R aircraft in 2010, then upgraded them to the RC-135W Rivet Joint standard under the “Airseeker project”. The acquisition of the three advanced aircraft was budgeted at £634 million, with entry into service in October of 2014.
The aircraft formed No. 41 Squadron of the RAF. They are currently based at Royal Air Force Waddington station in England.
RAF spy aircraft have been very busy recently. Just a day earlier, the Ministry of Defense of Russia said that it had scrambled a Su-30 fighter jet to intercept a British RC-135W aircraft that attempted to approach Crimea.
