On Saturday, the British Ministry of Defence announced that earlier this week, two advanced Royal Air Force (RAF) reconnaissance aircraft carried out a 12-hour joint mission along the Russian border with the support of the United States and NATO forces.
This operation is seen as the largest NATO Eastern flank joint patrol in two years. It was conducted in response to recent incidents of Russian drones and aircraft allegedly violating the airspace of NATO member countries including Poland, Romania, and Estonia.
The joint mission took place on Thursday, covering almost the entire NATO Eastern flank. The participating aircraft included an advanced RC-135 Rivet Joint electronic reconnaissance aircraft (SIGINT) from the British Royal Air Force and a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft.
Supported by a US Air Force KC-135 refueling aircraft, the two planes departed from the Arctic region, flew along the Russian border through Belarus and Ukraine, creating a continuous intelligence corridor covering the entire Eastern flank of NATO from the high north to the Black Sea region.
The RC-135 Rivet Joint is equipped with sophisticated sensor suites capable of real-time detection, identification, and location of signals across the entire electromagnetic spectrum, including radar and communications signals. The aircraft has conducted reconnaissance missions over Romania and near western Crimea in the Black Sea, monitoring Russian radar, communications, and air defense system activities.
British Defence Secretary John Healey emphasized the strategic significance of this mission, stating, “This is a substantial joint mission with our American and NATO allies.”
He explained, “Not only does it provide valuable intelligence to enhance the operational awareness of our armed forces, but it also sends a strong message of NATO unity to (Russian President) Putin and our adversaries.”
This operation showcased the transatlantic unity and cooperation among NATO allies. Furthermore, prior to this joint patrol, EU leaders earlier this month endorsed a plan aimed at collectively enhancing defense capabilities against Russian unmanned aerial vehicles.
At the core of this plan is the establishment of a multi-layered defense system called the “Drone Wall.” This “Drone Wall” is not a physical barrier but an integrated network with capabilities for detection, tracking, and interception, designed to counter Russia’s evolving hybrid warfare tactics, especially threats targeting Eastern member states and critical infrastructure.