Boeing RC-135V/W Rivet Joint

RC-135V/W - a specialized aircraft for airborne electronic reconnaissance, developed in the 1970s. The main tasks of the RC-135V and RC-135W are to identify sources of radio signal in the area of potential combat operations, collect information on land, sea and air targets, intercept radio communication between command posts and combat units, and monitor enemy air defences. For this very specific work, the aircraft crew consists of 12 to 16 surveillance operators and analysts for the purpose of operational data collection. Usually the RC-135V and RC-135W perform tasks together with other reconnaissance aircraft such as the E-3 AWACS, transmitting all the collected information to it as a mobile command post through a special encrypted communication channel. The RC-135V and RC-135W have been in service with the US Air Force for over 40 years and are the main type used for these operations; and since 2013, three RC-135Ws have been adopted by the Royal Air Force of the United Kingdom.