RAF / USAF Rivet Joint joins Future Force 2020

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White Cap
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RAF / USAF Rivet Joint joins Future Force 2020

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Source: MOD (UK)

Rivet Joint joins Future Force 2020

The most complex military sales case the UK has undertaken with the US Air Force for the last 70 years is well under way.

DE&S' Airseeker programme will see the Boeing RC-135 aircraft – Rivet Joint – take over airborne signals intelligence later in the decade.

Three Boeing KC-135 tankers are to be converted to Boeing RC-135W Rivet Joint aircraft in the most complex combined Foreign Military Sales case and co-operative support arrangement that the UK has undertaken with the United States Air Force (USAF) since World War II.

All three will be based at RAF Waddington, replacing the Nimrod R1 aircraft due out of service next year. The Nimrods entered service in the 1960s and provide the UK’s only signals intelligence (sigint) platform that collects and examines routine radio signals to provide support to front-line commanders.

Along with the aircraft comes a supporting ground system which is currently providing a similar sigint capability to US Forces.

http://www.combataircraft.com/en/Milita ... ng/RC-135/

Update: -

Commander-in-Chief visits new RAF intelligence aircraft training programme
13 Dec 11

The second-highest-ranking Royal Air Force officer has visited British personnel who are being trained in America to use the Rivet Joint aircraft - the RAF's new airborne signals intelligence aircraft.

Air Chief Marshal Sir Simon Bryant, Commander-in-Chief of Air Command, visited Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska to get a closer look at how the US Air Force's 55th Wing is providing RC-135/Rivet Joint initial qualification training to RAF personnel.

During his visit, Air Chief Marshal Bryant received an in-depth aircraft tour, met more than 25 RAF personnel, and saw first-hand how they are being trained on the Rivet Joint aircraft.

Airseeker is scheduled to enter service in 2014 but before then the UK's airborne signals intelligence capability is being sustained by a co-manning agreement under which UK personnel commenced deployed operations with US Air Force (USAF) colleagues on Rivet Joint aircraft in June 2011.

The RAF expects to buy three Rivet Joint aircraft over the next seven years, with delivery of the first due in late 2013.
' Fiat Justita'
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