RAF
New RAF Intelligence Aircraft To Be Delivered Early
The Defence Secretary has announced that the second RAF Airseeker intelligence aircraft will be delivered well ahead of schedule.
Following the Prime Minister’s recent direction to invest and build up the UK’s intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR) capability, the Defence Secretary has confirmed that the second Airseeker (Rivet Joint) signals intelligence plane is expected to be delivered to the RAF in September, seven months early.
The first Airseeker is currently employed on operations, alongside a variety of other RAF units, in the fight against ISIL in the skies over Iraq and Syria.
The Airseeker aircraft has state-of-the-art airborne electronic surveillance capability, allowing it to collect, analyse, and disseminate detailed signals intelligence information. In doing so it offers vital support to combat identification and targeting operations.
The new aircraft is expected to be deployable in a matter of weeks after delivery.
The UK contribution to the fight against Islamic State includes eight RAF Tornado fighter jets, 10 Reaper drones, a Voyager refuelling aircraft and a Sentinel intelligence-gathering plane.
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