96 RAF CENTENARY CELEBRATION PATROLLERS AND AIRLIFTERS
BOEING
RC-135W RIVET JOINT
2013 TO PRESENT
Type: 25-crew electronic surveillance aircraft
First fl ight: April 28, 1965 (RC-135), entered service November 2013
Powerplant: Four 21,600lb st (96kN) CFM International F108 turbofans
Dimensions: Span 131ft (39.90m), length 135ft (41.10m)
Weights: Empty 175,000lb (79,545kg), all-up 297,000lb (133,633kg)
Max speed: 541mph (870km/h) at 36,000ft (10,973m)
Range: 3,900 miles (6,276km)
Capacity: Assorted intelligence gathering sensors
Replaced: Nimrod MR.1
Taken on charge: Three
Replaced by: N /ABOEING RC-135W RIVET JOINT
“The aircraft are able to precisely locate,
record and analyse communications across
a vast area and can convey this information
through a myriad of secure channels.”
1918 2018T
he Boeing RC-135W Rivet
Joint is a dedicated electronic
surveillance aircraft that can be
employed on strategic and tactical
missions. In the words of the RAF,
its sensors ‘soak up’ electronic
emissions from communications,
radar and other systems.
In the first decade of the new
millennium, the RAF sought to
update its land and sea electronic
surveillance capabilities with two
separate projects. One was aimed at
improving 12 of the Nimrod MR.2
maritime patrol fleet to MRA.4
standard and the other, named
Project Helix, related to the Nimrod
R.1 ISTAR aircraft.
But both projects failed and when
the Nimrods retired the RAF was
left with a sizeable capability gap.
The MR.2 would not be replaced
until the Boeing P-8 Poseidon was
ordered (the type is expected to
enter RAF service in 2020), but theAbove
ZZ664 lands at RAF
Waddington at the
end of a training fl ight
shortly after arriving in
November 2013.Right
The RAF’s second
RC-135W Rivet Joint
(ZZ665) at Nellis AFB
in Nevada, USA, during
Exercise Red Flag in
January 2017. Aircraft
and crews from 51
Squadron took part
in the world’s largest
and most complex air
combat exercise as part
of their work up on
the Rivet Joint, prior
to being declared fully
operational a year later.