Second British ISR plane heads to Middle East

An RC-135 Rivet Joint from the 45th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron takes off for a mission here Aug. 26, 2008. The 45 ERS supports theater and national-level consumers with near real-time on-scene intelligence collection, analysis and dissemination.

A second British Airseeker ISR aircraft will be flying missions over Iraq and Syria in the fall.

The second Airseeker, the British version of the U.S. RC-135W Rivet Joint signals intelligence aircraft, will be delivered in September, seven months earlier than scheduled, according to a Ministry of Defense announcement. The first Airseeker is already flying missions against Islamic State forces in Iraq and Syria.

”We’re the only coalition nation conducting manned ISR over Syria.” said Defense Secretary Michael Fallon. “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 US, matches our efforts.”