RAF gets second ISR aircraft
The UK's second Boeing RC-135W Airseeker SIGINT aircraft has been delivered to the Royal Air Force (RAF) as a part of the Airseeker Programme, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on 4 September.
The specialist signal surveillance aircraft was delivered seven months earlier than scheduled. It was handed over to RAF Mildenhall base in Suffolk and will enter into service in the coming weeks.
According to the MoD over 60 improvements have been made to the second Airseeker since the delivery of the first aircraft in 2014. The enhancements include engine improvements for increased durability and fuel efficiency, as well as upgrades to the aircraft’s mission systems.
The first Airseeker, which is already in service with the RAF, will eventually undergo an upgrade programme to bring it in line with the improvements made on the second aircraft.
Michael Fallon, UK Defence Secretary, said: ‘The delivery of the second Airseeker provides our armed forces with another vital intelligence aircraft that will give valuable support to our fight against enemies such as ISIL. With a defence budget that will rise in real terms over the next five years and a £163 billion equipment plan, we are able to give our armed forces the best equipment to meet the growing and complex threats we face today.'
The aircraft's sensors gather data and intelligence, which then undergoes onboard analysis and is distributed to be exploited by assets on the ground via its high-tech communications suite.
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