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One interesting thing is that the Airseeker will not have a refueling probe added, which means they will have to rely on USAF or Dutch tankers for air refueling.
Originally posted by Zaphod58
A photo of the first Royal Air Force RC-135V/W Rivet Joint has been leaked online, while undergoing modifications. It will be the first foreign operated RC-135. They will be designated Airseeker by the RAF.
The Airseeker airframes are 1964 era KC-135s that were in the Boneyard, and are undergoing conversion to the RC-135 standard. The first will be complete next year, and will enter service with 51 Squadron, which operated the Nimrod R1 Sigint aircraft. Crews have been flying with the 55th Wing which operates the RC-135 for the US Air Force.
One interesting thing is that the Airseeker will not have a refueling probe added, which means they will have to rely on USAF or Dutch tankers for air refueling.
RAF Airseeker
Originally posted by Zaphod58
reply to post by 727Sky
It's a Signals Intelligence aircraft (SIGINT). The US uses them to try to get antiaircraft sites to come up and when they do it maps them. They also, as you say, intercept communications and radar signals. There was one version (distinguished by one wing being painted matte black) that mounted cameras inside the fuselage, with large camera ports on the side, that would take pictures flying along the border of whatever nation they were flying near on the mission.edit on 12/25/2012 by Zaphod58 because: (no reason given)