RC-135 Rivet Joint: British Surveillance Intensifies Monitoring of Kaliningrad and the Baltic Sea

RC-135 Rivet Joint: British Surveillance Intensifies Monitoring of Kaliningrad and the Baltic Sea (X @RoyalAirForce)

A British RC-135 “Rivet Joint” electronic surveillance aircraft conducted patrols over Latvia and the Baltic Sea, focusing on the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad.

These flights, which occur routinely, are intended to monitor Russian forces, and the visibility of the aircraft is intentional, so both the public and Russia are aware of its presence.

The Royal Air Force highlights that the RC-135W Rivet Joint is used in various strategic and tactical missions, capturing electronic emissions from communication, radar, and other systems. The specialists on board are responsible for analyzing the electromagnetic spectrum to provide information to commanders.

Recently, the frequency of British flights in the region has increased for obvious reasons, with American assets also present. The United Kingdom operates three of these aircraft, which are widely used in operations such as “Operation Shader.”

Source: UK Defence Journal | Photo: X @RoyalAirForce | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team