RAF Receives Its Second RC-135 SIGINT Jet

September 5, 2015

Britain receives second signals intelligence aircraft

LONDON, Sept. 4 (UPI) – Britain’s Royal Air Force on Thursday received a second Rivet Joint signals intelligence aircraft from the United States.

The Rivet Joint is a Boeing KC-135 tanker converted by L-3 Communications. The U.S. Air Force refers to it as the RC-135W Rivet Joint aircraft.

Britain has procured three of the aircraft for about $992 million in a government-to-government sale for its Airseeker program to augment the RAF’s intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.

The Ministry of Defense said the first Rivet Joint received is currently conducting operations over Syria and Iraq as part of operations against the Islamic State, also identified as Daesh and by the acronyms ISIS and ISIL.

“The delivery of the second Airseeker provides our Armed Forces with another vital intelligence aircraft that will give valuable support to our fight against enemies such as ISIL,” said Defense Secretary Michael Fallon. “With a Defense budget that will rise in real terms over the next five years and a £163 billion ($249 billion) equipment plan, we are able to give our Armed Forces the best equipment to meet the growing and complex threats we face today.”

The second aircraft was delivered seven months ahead of schedule and features more than 60 improvements over the first, upgraded mission systems and engine improvements for enhanced fuel efficiency.

The improvements will later be incorporated into the first Airseeker plane.

A third Airseeker is scheduled for delivery in 2017.