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.
You may also like
More from Digital Battlespace
-
![Australia looks towards space with force restructure, investment and training]()
Australia looks towards space with force restructure, investment and training
Australia is looking to improve its presence in space with a focus on communications and creating a dedicated segment of its defence forces committed to the domain.
-
![EID to unveil new vehicle communication system at DSEI]()
EID to unveil new vehicle communication system at DSEI
The Portuguese company’s naval communications system is in service across more than a dozen countries. It has turned to its home nation for support in developing a new vehicle based C2 system.
-
![Chess Dynamics successfully demonstrates Vision4ce AI-driven tracker]()
Chess Dynamics successfully demonstrates Vision4ce AI-driven tracker
The Vision4ce Deep Embedded Feature Tracking (DEFT) technology software is designed to process video and images by blending traditional computer vision with artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms to present actionable information from complex environments.
-
![Wave Relay devices cleared for security use on commercial systems in industry trend]()
Wave Relay devices cleared for security use on commercial systems in industry trend
Persistent Systems has been cleared by National Security Agency (NSA) to transmit sensitive data on commercial networks. The devices are added to the NSA’s Commercial Solutions for Classified (CSfC) component list which also includes other companies’ products providing the same security.
-
![UK teases cyber spending boost in Strategic Defence Review ahead of “imminent” release]()
UK teases cyber spending boost in Strategic Defence Review ahead of “imminent” release
The release of the UK’s Strategic Defence Review (SDR) has been long promised as mid-year. It is possible it could be as early as 2 June although the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) continues to play its cards close to its chest.
-
![Intelsat emphasises SATCOM resilience for SOF in contested domains (video)]()
Intelsat emphasises SATCOM resilience for SOF in contested domains (video)
Intelsat outlines how its multi-orbit SATCOM architecture is enhancing connectivity and resilience for special operations forces operating in degraded and contested environments.
