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USAF's 55th Wing establishes permanent RC-135 detachment in Alaska

The USAF’s 55th Wing has announced the activation of the 55th Operations Group Detachment 1 at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska

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How has Russia responded to Western ISR ops over NATO’s eastern flank?

Electronic intelligence flights in international airspace close to Russia have led to a series of incidents. Sérgio Santana looks at the heightened tensions and the Russian response to Western operations

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How the 95th RS conducts RC-135 ops from RAF Mildenhall

As the USAF’s 95th Reconnaissance Squadron celebrates 105 years since its formation, Luca Chadwick looks at its operations out of RAF Mildenhall in the UK

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USAF, RAF crews conduct joint RC-135 training at Red Flag 23-1

Exercise Red Flag 23-1, which was recently held at Nellis AFB, provided a vital opportunity for RAF RC-135W crews to integrate with their USAF counterparts, as Khalem Chapman explains

USAF's Big Safari Program receives TC-135W, prepares to divest last NC-135W

On February 14, a USAF-operated Boeing TC-135W departed Offutt AFB, Nebraska, for Greenville-Majors Airport, Texas, where it will be reassigned to the air arm’s Big Safari Program and redesignated as an NC-135 platform

Russian jets fire missile at RAF aircraft

A Russian Air Force Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker released a missile in the ‘vicinity’ of an RAF aircraft during a 90-minute stand off over the Black Sea, the UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has revealed

UK and US extend Airseeker support until 2035

The UK and US have moved to extend an existing support deal for the RC-135W Rivet Joint (Airseeker) electronic surveillance aircraft until 2035 in a deal worth £970m

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Silent Snoopers

As the Rivet Joint approaches its half-century, it’s time to loosen the bolt and explore why this electronic surveillance aircraft remains the backbone of the USAF’s medium-altitude intelligence gathering capability

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RAF Rivet Joints: Out of the Shadows

The RAF has been highly secretive over the years about the electronic intelligence role of 51 Sqn. With this in mind, Aviation News Editor Dino Carrara was intrigued to hear what would be revealed at a recent press event held at RAF Waddington.