LONDON, July 17 (UPI) — Britain is to receive its second Rivet Joint reconnaissance aircraft in September, seven months ahead of schedule, the Ministry of Defense said.
The RC-135 aircraft, called the Airseeker by the British military, is built by Boeing and features modifications by companies such as General Dynamics, Lockheed, LTV, E-Systems and L-3 Communications. It is used to collect, analyze, and disseminate detailed signals intelligence information in support of combat identification and targeting operations.
Britain’s first Airseeker is conducting missions over Syria and Iraq against the Islamic State, also known as ISIL. The new aircraft is expected to do the same.
“We’re the only coalition nation conducting manned ISR over Syria,” Defense Secretary Michael Fallon said Thursday. “And today I can announce that our latest Airseeker plane will be delivered next month, seven months ahead of schedule and will be operational shortly after that in the skies above Iraq and Syria – providing essential intelligence in the fight against ISIL.
“No one, except the U.S., matches our efforts.”
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