RAF Spy Plane Shadow War With Putin

The Rivet Joint spy plane gathers intel on Russian forces. Escorted by jets, it faces threats near Ukraine.

RAF Spy Plane Shadow War With Putin
RAF Spy Plane Shadow War With Putin

The Rivet Joint gathers intel on Russian forces in Ukraine. Some call it an ‘electronic hoover’ because it collects data. It is a top-secret RAF spy plane.

A Russian fighter jet threatened to destroy it near Ukraine over the Black Sea. Two RAF Typhoon jets were escorting the Rivet Joint. The mission collected vital data on Kremlin forces.

Around 30 RAF personnel operate the Rivet Joint, which is full of surveillance tech. Even fighter pilots escorting it didn’t know the goals. The aircraft relays info to Ukrainian forces, possibly including intercepted phone calls.

The RAF has three of these spy planes, which are 132 feet long, and extend the US Air Force’s fleet. The name comes from old American airframe mods. People aboard work calmly at computer stations; pilots and linguists are part of the crew.

Over Romania, a pilot chatted with a Typhoon escort about relaxing after takeoff from RAF Waddington. He mentioned strolls, food, coffee, and that they have a Starbucks.

Typhoon pilots flew from Cyprus to Romania to meet the Rivet Joint. They protected the plane over the Black Sea. The plane listens to enemy communications, and surface-to-air missiles were a known threat.

A Russian message warned the RAF aircraft that they were near Russia’s border. It threatened destruction if they did not leave. The British pilots then had a decision to make.

In 2022, a Russian jet fired a missile near a Rivet Joint on patrol over the Black Sea. The RAF formation turned back near Crimea. This was shown on Channel 4’s Top Guns: Inside the RAF.

The West gives Ukraine weapons but stays out of direct fighting. The Rivet Joint sees deep into Ukraine and Russia, listening and watching with sensors. The information helps Ukraine fight the invasion.

The Rivet Joint’s capabilities are impressive; it flew from the Mediterranean to the Arctic. Utilising radar and radio tech to gather data, the plane can intercept Russian signals, who may use insecure mobile communications due to corruption hindering access to secure radios.

Russia knows what the Rivet Joint does, but it operates in international airspace. Therefore, Russia cannot legally target it, as it would be an act of aggression. Russia is annoyed that the West aids Ukraine, so they bully and threaten.

The Rivet Joint has sensors for communications and radar. It uses four turbofan engines, reaching 470 knots and traveling 3,900 miles. Analysts share important intel to units quickly.

The Rivet Joint, formerly Airseeker, has been on missions like Operation Shader against ISIS. It also flies near the Black Sea during the war, and routinely flies near NATO borders.

Pilots must protect the Rivet Joint’s crew. The are plane is not armed, and the pilots don’t have parachutes. The Typhoons show off a lethal ability.

Russian jets fly too close to Western planes and issue warnings to deter them. Typhoons escort the Rivet Joint after a past event. Russia knows that any attack will be met with force.

Russia shot down a US drone aircraft because they dislike Western involvement. They intimidate to stop the West. If Russia fired a missile, it would be an act of war.

British jets frequently intercept Russian bombers. The Ministry of Defence shared these figures: seven launches occurred last year. The launches are steady despite rising tensions.

Norwegian jets responded to Russian planes near NATO airspace yesterday. The Norweigan Air Force monitored the Russian bombers. The RAF protects UK and NATO airspace 24/7.

Image Credits and Reference: https://metro.co.uk/2025/02/05/inside-top-secret-raf-spy-plane-shadow-war-putins-forces-22502261/
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