RAF surveillance.

 An RAF Rivet Joint RC-135W signals intelligence aircraft taking off from RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire.The RC-135W Rivet Joint is a large, all-weather electronic surveillance aircraft based on the C-135 airframe.The Royal Air Force has purchased three RC-135 Rivet Joint aircraft, currently being converted from KC-135R Stratotanker airframes to RC-135W standard at the L3 Communications facility in Greenville, Texas. The first aircraft is due for delivery in late 2013, with the final delivery expected in 2017.A programme of continual upgrades has kept the USAF RC-135 fleet at the cutting edge of technology and relevant capability. The three RAF aircraft will continue to benefit from the upgrade programme in turn with USAF aircraft.The RC-135W Rivet Joint is equipped with a variety of sensors, allowing its multi- disciplined crew to intercept and exploit emissions across the electromagnetic spectrum, providing both strategic and tactical level intelligence.