British spy plane intensifies surveillance near Kaliningrad
On Tuesday, January 14, a British-owned Boeing RC-135W Rivet Joint flew around Kaliningrad Oblast, and its route could be tracked via the Flightradar24 service. Reconnaissance aircraft of this type, often called flying radars, are frequently seen in Polish airspace, where they gather data, including information about what is happening in Ukraine.
In the afternoon, the reconnaissance aircraft RC-135W Rivet Joint, from the British military, was circling Kaliningrad Oblast while flying in the airspace of NATO member states. The Flightradar24 service tracked it flying over Poland, Lithuania, and the Baltic Sea.
RC-135W Rivet Joint – the flying radar
The Boeing RC-135W Rivet Joint is an advanced reconnaissance aircraft that has been integral to NATO countries' intelligence operations for decades. This aircraft, based on the design of the classic Boeing C-135 Stratolifter, is tailored for gathering intelligence from the air, including photographic and electronic reconnaissance.
The RC-135W has modern listening systems that intercept radio communications, radar signals, and other electromagnetic emissions. This capability allows it to monitor and analyze opponents' activities over a wide area, supporting both operational and strategic objectives. Onboard, there is also a real-time data analysis system, which enables a team of up to 30 specialists to interpret the gathered information immediately.
The RC-135W can perform long-duration flights at high altitudes. Powered by four CFM International F108-CF-201 jet engines, it reaches a cruising speed of approximately 850 km/h, and its range exceeds 5,000 km. This capacity allows it to carry out missions lasting several hours. Additionally, its operational range is virtually unlimited thanks to in-flight refuelling systems.
British "Airseeker"
The United Kingdom owns three RC-135W Rivet Joint aircraft, known as Airseeker. London acquired them under an agreement with the USA, upgrading previously used KC-135R aircraft to the RC-135W standard. These planes have been adapted to British needs in close collaboration with U.S. military aviation.
The first Airseeker was delivered to the Royal Air Force (RAF) in 2014, and all three play a key role in NATO's intelligence operations, particularly in monitoring Russian activities in Eastern Europe and the Arctic region.
