Editing Boeing RC-135 (section)

====RC-135W Rivet Joint (Project Airseeker)====
[[File:RAF100 Flypast -13 ‘GOOSE’ formation. 10-7-2018 (43920147152).jpg|thumb|A British RC-135W, 2018]]
<!-- Although Air Seeker is often seen in third-party sources, the MoD use Airseeker to refer to the RIVET JOINT project (and originally used it as the UK name for the aircraft themselves) -->
The United Kingdom bought three KC-135R aircraft for conversion to RC-135W Rivet Joint standard<ref name="fg201003" /> under the Airseeker project.<ref name=FG20131112>{{cite web | url=http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/pictures-first-raf-rivet-joint-aircraft-arrives-in-uk-392875/ | title=PICTURES: First RAF Rivet Joint aircraft arrives in UK | first=Dominic | last=Perry | date=12 November 2013 | work=FlightGlobal | access-date=18 December 2013 | archive-date=22 January 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160122031208/http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/pictures-first-raf-rivet-joint-aircraft-arrives-in-uk-392875/ | url-status=live }}</ref> Acquisition of the three aircraft was budgeted at £634m, with entry into service in October 2014.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc1213/hc06/0684/0684_i.pdf | title=Ministry of Defence – The Major Projects Report 2012 Appendix 3 | page=32 | publisher=National Audit Office | date=8 January 2013 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219073623/http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc1213/hc06/0684/0684_i.pdf | archive-date=19 December 2013 }}</ref> The aircraft formed [[No. 51 Squadron RAF]], based at [[RAF Waddington]] along with the RAF's other ISTAR assets. They are expected to remain in service until 2045.

Previously, the Royal Air Force had gathered signals intelligence with three [[Hawker Siddeley Nimrod R1|Nimrod R1]] aircraft.<ref name="uk08" /> When the time came to upgrade the maritime Nimrods to [[Nimrod MRA4|MRA4 standard]], Project Helix was launched in August 2003 to study options for extending the life of the R1 to 2025.<ref name=MPR2010>{{cite web | url=http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc1011/hc04/0489/0489_i.pdf | title=Ministry of Defence – The Major Projects Report 2010 Appendix 2 | page=24 | publisher=National Audit Office | date=15 October 2010 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105223335/http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc1011/hc04/0489/0489_i.pdf | archive-date=5 November 2013 }}</ref> In 2008, the option of switching to Rivet Joint was added to Helix,<ref name=MPR2010 /> and the retirement of the R1 became inevitable when the MRA4 was cancelled under the UK's [[Strategic Defence and Security Review 2010|2010 defence review]]. The R1's involvement over Libya in [[Operation Ellamy]] delayed its retirement until June 2011.

Helix became Project Airseeker, under which three KC-135R airframes were converted to the RC-135W standard by [[L-3 Communications]]. L-3 provides ongoing maintenance and upgrades under a long-term agreement. The three airframes are former [[United States Air Force]] [[Boeing KC-135|KC-135R]]s, all of which first flew in 1964 and were modified to the latest RC-135W standard before delivery. These three airframes were the youngest KC-135s in the USAF fleet.<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 August 2009 |title=UK Yet To Confirm Nimrod SIGINT Replacement |url=https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2009-08-20/uk-yet-confirm-nimrod-sigint-replacement |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231011032125/https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2009-08-20/uk-yet-confirm-nimrod-sigint-replacement |archive-date=11 October 2023 |website=Aviation International News}}</ref> As of September 2010 the aircraft had approximately 23,200 flying hours, 22,200 hours and 23,200 hours.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm110118/text/110118w0004.htm|title=House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 18 Jan 2011 (pt 0004)|website=publications.parliament.uk|access-date=2 February 2019|archive-date=30 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181130121932/https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm110118/text/110118w0004.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

In January 2011, 51 Sqn personnel began training at Offutt for conversion to the RC-135.<ref name="fg201101">{{cite web |last=Hoyle |first=Craig |date=14 January 2011 |title=RAF personnel start Rivet Joint training |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2011/01/14/351887/raf-personnel-start-rivet-joint-training.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110119141337/http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2011/01/14/351887/raf-personnel-start-rivet-joint-training.html |archive-date=19 January 2011 |access-date=21 January 2011 |publisher=Flight International}}</ref> The first RC-135W (ZZ664) was delivered ahead of schedule to the Royal Air Force on 12 November 2013, for final approval and testing by the Defence Equipment and Support team prior to its release to service from the [[UK MAA]]. The second (ZZ665) was delivered in September 2015 and the third (ZZ666) in June 2017. The latter entered operational service in December 2017.<ref>{{cite web |last=Chuter |first=Andrew |date=22 April 2016 |title=Type 26 Frigate Production Approval Date Revealed in Letters Release |url=http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/international/europe/2016/04/22/letter-release-reveals-type-26-production-approval-date/83381446/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240108000452/https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2016/04/22/type-26-frigate-production-approval-date-revealed-in-letters-release/ |archive-date=8 January 2024 |access-date=23 April 2016 |website=Defense News}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Allison|first1=George|title=UK takes delivery of third and final RC-135 Rivet Joint surveillance aircraft|url=https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/uk-takes-delivery-third-final-rc-135-rivet-joint/|website=UK Defence Journal|access-date=12 June 2017|archive-url=https://archive.today/20170612150832/https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/uk-takes-delivery-third-final-rc-135-rivet-joint/|archive-date=12 June 2017|date=8 June 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>