Latest news with #RC-135VRivetJoint
Miami Herald
5 days ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
US Sharpens Spy Plane Tactics With Pacific Ally
The United States recently deployed a spy plane to Australia-its South Pacific ally-to strengthen its ability to conduct intelligence gathering from a forward-deployed location. The late-May deployment was part of Exercise RECCE-Edge 25, the U.S. Air Force 18th Wing-host unit at Kadena Air Base in Japan-announced in a news release on Tuesday, which reinforced the role of delivering "timely, reliable intelligence" from any location. The U.S. Air Force has been actively conducting surveillance missions in the western Pacific Ocean, particularly over waters bordering China. It has deployed various reconnaissance aircraft to Kadena Air Base, a strategic hub for projecting U.S. airpower in the region. The recent temporary deployment to Australia follows a Pentagon report on Chinese military power, which assessed that Beijing has expanded its ballistic missile force capable of striking U.S. military bases in Japan-including airfields lacking fortifications to protect aircraft. Newsweek has reached out to the Chinese Defense Ministry for comment by email. A team of 55 airmen and an RC-135V Rivet Joint reconnaissance aircraft were deployed to an air force base in Darwin, northern Australia, from May 19 to 23, according to the 18th Wing. The airmen were assigned to the 82nd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron. Although the squadron is part of the 55th Wing at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska, it has operated out of Kadena Air Base since January 1968. It is responsible for conducting aerial intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions across the Indo-Pacific region. RECCE-Edge 25 focused on "enhancing agile force capabilities, intelligence gathering, and joint interoperability," according to the news release, allowing the unit to strengthen tactics and sustain reconnaissance operations while operating from a forward-deployed location. The forward-deployed team demonstrated its ability to rapidly deploy and sustain "high-tempo reconnaissance missions" from the remote location by achieving full operational capability in just under 12 hours after arriving in Darwin from Japan, the 18th Wing said. U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Michael Ellsworth, director of operations of the 82nd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron, described Darwin as an ideal location for such forward deployment, adding that the Australian ally offers a "close and secure" location. By operating out of Darwin, this ensured the squadron's capabilities reach across the Indo-Pacific region, said U.S. Air Force Major Robert Anglin, assistant director of operations of the 82nd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron, "no matter how far we are from home." The RC-135V Rivet Joint is equipped with a sensor suite to detect, identify, and geolocate electronic signals, according to a U.S. Air Force fact sheet. This "highly specialized signals intelligence platform" is capable of delivering real-time intelligence, the 18th Wing added. U.S. Air Force Major Robert Anglin, the 82nd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron assistant director of operations, said: "The Rivet Joint is a high-value asset and crucial to maintaining our reconnaissance capabilities, so it's very important that we're able to get it up and running quickly." The U.S. Air Force 18th Wing commented: "The [82nd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron] demonstrated its ability to operate and perform their duties in any location while proving the importance of cooperation with trusted partners to uphold regional stability and maintain intelligence superiority." In addition to Australia, it remains to be seen whether U.S. spy planes stationed in Japan will operate from other forward locations in allied territories across the western Pacific region. Related Articles 'Game-Changing' Anti-Ship Weapon Tested by US Stealth BomberIran to Counter US Nuclear Offer as Trump Sends New WarningHooters Closing Locations Across US: Full List of Restaurants Shutting DownJeffrey Epstein Video Release: What Footage Shows of His Death 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
6 days ago
- Newsweek
US Sharpens Spy Plane Tactics With Pacific Ally
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The United States recently deployed a spy plane to Australia—its South Pacific ally—to strengthen its ability to conduct intelligence gathering from a forward-deployed location. The late-May deployment was part of Exercise RECCE-Edge 25, the U.S. Air Force 18th Wing—host unit at Kadena Air Base in Japan—announced in a news release on Tuesday, which reinforced the role of delivering "timely, reliable intelligence" from any location. Why It Matters The U.S. Air Force has been actively conducting surveillance missions in the western Pacific Ocean, particularly over waters bordering China. It has deployed various reconnaissance aircraft to Kadena Air Base, a strategic hub for projecting U.S. airpower in the region. The recent temporary deployment to Australia follows a Pentagon report on Chinese military power, which assessed that Beijing has expanded its ballistic missile force capable of striking U.S. military bases in Japan—including airfields lacking fortifications to protect aircraft. Newsweek has reached out to the Chinese Defense Ministry for comment by email. What To Know A team of 55 airmen and an RC-135V Rivet Joint reconnaissance aircraft were deployed to an air force base in Darwin, northern Australia, from May 19 to 23, according to the 18th Wing. The airmen were assigned to the 82nd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron. Although the squadron is part of the 55th Wing at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska, it has operated out of Kadena Air Base since January 1968. It is responsible for conducting aerial intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions across the Indo-Pacific region. RECCE-Edge 25 focused on "enhancing agile force capabilities, intelligence gathering, and joint interoperability," according to the news release, allowing the unit to strengthen tactics and sustain reconnaissance operations while operating from a forward-deployed location. The forward-deployed team demonstrated its ability to rapidly deploy and sustain "high-tempo reconnaissance missions" from the remote location by achieving full operational capability in just under 12 hours after arriving in Darwin from Japan, the 18th Wing said. United States Air Force airmen prepare an RC-135V Rivet Joint reconnaissance aircraft at Royal Australian Air Force Base Darwin in Australia on May 21, 2025. United States Air Force airmen prepare an RC-135V Rivet Joint reconnaissance aircraft at Royal Australian Air Force Base Darwin in Australia on May 21, 2025. 2nd Lt. James Strong/U.S. Air Force U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Michael Ellsworth, director of operations of the 82nd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron, described Darwin as an ideal location for such forward deployment, adding that the Australian ally offers a "close and secure" location. By operating out of Darwin, this ensured the squadron's capabilities reach across the Indo-Pacific region, said U.S. Air Force Major Robert Anglin, assistant director of operations of the 82nd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron, "no matter how far we are from home." The RC-135V Rivet Joint is equipped with a sensor suite to detect, identify, and geolocate electronic signals, according to a U.S. Air Force fact sheet. This "highly specialized signals intelligence platform" is capable of delivering real-time intelligence, the 18th Wing added. What People Are Saying U.S. Air Force Major Robert Anglin, the 82nd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron assistant director of operations, said: "The Rivet Joint is a high-value asset and crucial to maintaining our reconnaissance capabilities, so it's very important that we're able to get it up and running quickly." The U.S. Air Force 18th Wing commented: "The [82nd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron] demonstrated its ability to operate and perform their duties in any location while proving the importance of cooperation with trusted partners to uphold regional stability and maintain intelligence superiority." What Happens Next In addition to Australia, it remains to be seen whether U.S. spy planes stationed in Japan will operate from other forward locations in allied territories across the western Pacific region.
Yahoo
04-02-2025
- Yahoo
RC-135 Rivet Joint Surveillance Jet Just Flew Unprecedented Mission Off Mexico
A U.S. Air Force RC-135V Rivet Joint conducted a highly unusual flight in the Gulf of California yesterday, between Mexico's Baja Peninsula and the rest of that country, according to online flight tracking data. The strategic intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) plane looks to have done the same today. The Rivet Joint is one of America's most capable intelligence-gathering assets and the appearance of one off the Mexican coast is a significant development. This comes amid a major increase in U.S. military support for operations along the border with Mexico under President Donald Trump and talk of unprecedented direct action by American forces against drug cartels, which you can read more about in this separate TWZ feature. Flight tracking software shows RC-135V serial number 64-14845 flew southwest from Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska to the skies over southern California on Feb. 3. Offutt is home to the 55th Wing, which oversees the bulk of the Air Force's Rivet Joint fleet along with an array of other ISR and highly specialized command and control aircraft. The jet then hooked south along the Pacific coast of the Baja Peninsula before flying up into the Gulf of California. The aircraft subsequently returned to Offutt following the same route, but in reverse. USAF RC-135V Rivet Joint operating in the Gulf of California. Flights off Baja over the Pacific happen from time to not in the gulf…64-14845 — RivetJoint (@SpeckleBelly64) February 4, 2025 Additional flight tracking data indicates that 64-14845 conducted a sortie along essentially the same route earlier today. There may have been additional recent Rivet Joint flights over the Gulf of California prior to Jan. 3, but has not been immediately able to verify that independently. So, about that RC-135 flight today…… Fair warning, this'll be a longer I watched as 64-14845 launched out of Offutt this morning and headed toward the Pacific for today's mission. Yes, I have seen claims about "sending a message" etc. and the big one, operating… — MeNMyRC (@MeNMyRC1) February 4, 2025 Despite how relatively narrow the Gulf of California is, there are international waters and airspace above at its center. There are no indications that 64-14845 ever entered Mexican national airspace in the course of any of these flights. When queried about 64-14845's activity off the coast of Mexico, the U.S. Air Force redirected TWZ to U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM). We have also reached out to the Mexican Embassy in Washington, D.C. It is worth noting up front that the use of RC-135V/W Rivet Joints to support operations in the Western Hemisphere, especially counter-drug missions, is not necessarily well known but is also not new, something TWZ has highlighted in the past. Rivet Joints flying sorties tasked to NORTHCOM, specifically, is something that occurs on a somewhat regular basis, as well. In addition, RC-135V/Ws have been tracked flying in international airspace near Baja on the Pacific side in the past, typically in support of exercises in the ranges off of southern California. Curious but not unheard seen Rivet Joint conducting flights off the Baja California coast in the past. — Status-6 (Military & Conflict News) (BlueSky too) (@Archer83Able) February 3, 2025 However, by all accounts, Rivet Joint sorties in the Gulf of California are at least exceedingly rare, if not an entirely new collection area for the jets. From there, 64-14845 could listen into the northwestern corner of Mexico, an area that largely falls under the influence of the infamous Sinaloa Cartel. Whose boss? Map of drug cartels in Mexico as of 2024. Source: — Simon Kuestenmacher (@simongerman600) May 19, 2024 Each airliner-sized RC-135V/W is packed with a variety of signals intelligence (SIGINT) systems that detect and intercept communications and other electronic transmissions. The aircraft can also geolocate and categorize the emitters sending out those signals, from radios to radars. On a typical mission, an RC-135V/W's crew consists of more than two dozen individuals, which includes linguists, electronic warfare officers, and other intelligence specialists who can immediately begin analyzing the information the SIGINT suites collect. The Rivet Joint also has an extensive communications array that allows data to be passed in near real-time to nearby units in the field and/or to nodes globally for further exploitation and dissemination. Intercepting and geolocating communications chatter, together with other intelligence, can help establish so-called 'patterns of life' for a select individual or group of individuals. That information, in turn, can be used to help further refine intelligence gathering strategies or even plan and execute targeted ground raids or strikes. Similarly, data provided by Rivet Joints can also help in the creation of what are known as electronic orders of battle detailing the disposition of enemy or potentially hostile forces, especially air defense units and command and control nodes, in a given area. However, this is not applicable to the flights off the coast of Mexico. Rivet Joint flights in the Gulf of California could provide a valuable additional stream of intelligence on cartel operations and other illicit activities, as well as just better situational awareness about what is happening in a critical cartel activity area. That would be in line with official statements from the Pentagon about its expanded presence around the southern border since Trump took office in January. 'We anticipate that overall, on the southwest border, [active-duty personnel] will provide real-time situational awareness of persons, vehicles, vessels and aircraft; and they'll work with [U.S. Customs and Border Protection] on operator-level maintenance, movement and staging of [CBP] assets,' a senior U.S. military official said last month. 'We also anticipate that there could be some additional airborne intelligence, surveillance, and support assets that would move down to the border to increase situational awareness.' USNI News reported yesterday that U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol planes are now conducting flights along the border with Mexico as another example of increased U.S. military ISR support. P-8As also have extensive SIGINT capabilities, as well as turrets with electro-optical and infrared video cameras. Intelligence that RC-135V/Ws, as well as other ISR aircraft, collect could be passed along to other U.S. intelligence and law enforcement agencies, including to support interdiction operations on land and at sea. The U.S. military has an established history already of providing near real-time information from aerial surveillance platforms about suspected drug smuggling and other illicit activities to law enforcement agencies along the border, as TWZ has explored in detail in the past. Certain intelligence might also be passed to authorities in Mexico to support their counter-drug and other operations. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum pledged to deploy 10,000 troops on her country's side of the border to help combat drug trafficking yesterday as part of an ostensible deal to try to stave off a trade war with the United States. Sheinbaum's predecessor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, had similarly agreed to send 10,000 troops to the border back in 2021 as part of an earlier agreement struck with former President Joe Biden's administration. The appearance of a Rivet Joint in the Gulf of California also comes amid open discussion about the possibility of the U.S. military taking direct action against drug cartels in Mexico, including targeted strikes. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said in an interview on Fox last Friday that 'all options will be on the table,' but added that any such decision to act would rest with Trump. Pete Hegseth on possible military strikes in Mexico: "All options will be on the table." — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 31, 2025 The capabilities that the Air Force's RC-135V/Ws offer mean its presence could be a precursor to such an operational intent, dramatically increasing the quality and volume of available intelligence collection. Rivet Joints are used regularly in this general role in the lead-up to larger operations. As just one example, Rivet Joints flew regularly off the coast of Syria in the lead-up to U.S.-led missile strikes on multiple targets in that country in April 2018 during Trump's first term in office. At the same time, RC-135V/Ws are also used to collect regular intelligence from a standoff distance all over the world. So, it is important to stress that there are no indications at the time of writing that any such direct military activity is imminent or even planned. In addition, even if the flights were conducted with the explicit approval of the Mexican government, pursuing that course of action would have far-reaching ramifications. TWZ has published a feature just today exploring these issues, which you can find here. Still, openly conducting Rivet Joint sorties in the Gulf California, together with the rest of the expanding U.S. military presence around the southern border, does already send broader signals to Mexico's cartels across the region. Contact the author: joe@
