UK receives second Airseeker ISR aircraft

[Zarvan]

The second of three Boeing RC-135W Airseeker ISR aircraft for the RAF arrives at Mildenhall on 3 September. Source: Crown Copyright
The UK Royal Air Force (RAF) has received into service the second of three Boeing RC-135W Airseeker intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on 4 September.

The aircraft arrived at RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk the day before the announcement and is set to be deployed on operations "within a matter of weeks", the MoD said. This delivery is seven months ahead of schedule, with the final aircraft set to arrive in the UK by the end of 2017.

Operated by 51 Squadron at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire, the RC-135W has been temporarily relocated while the runway at its homebase is resurfaced. The Airseeker, which until recently was known by its US Air Force moniker of Rivet Joint, has been deployed on operations over Iraq and Syria since July 2014.

Since delivery of the first Airseeker in 2014, over 60 improvements have been incorporated into the second aircraft, ranging from upgrades to the mission systems to engine improvements providing increased fuel efficiency and durability. The first aircraft will be retrofitted with these enhancements at a later date.

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UK receives second Airseeker ISR aircraft - IHS Jane's 360