英国萨福克郡米尔登霍尔空军基地
Photo by UK Air Force/Cpl Chantelle Cooke | 2015-09-03 10:18:20 | ZZ665 (cn 18778)
英国空军第二架 RC-135W 战略电子侦察机移交给米尔登霍尔空军基地,该机于今年7月接收。英国空军从美国共订购了三架 RC-135W,是其“空中搜寻者”计划的组成部分,首架于2014年7月服役,目前部署在中东,参与空袭ISIL联军行动。(the Airseeker aircraft at RAF Mildenhall.
As part of its Airseeker Programme, the second signals intelligence aircraft has been delivered to the RAF, seven months early, the MOD has announced.
The specialist surveillance aircraft was handed over today at RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk and will be deployable on operations within a matter of weeks.
Since delivery of the first aircraft last year, over 60 improvements have been incorporated into the second aeroplane ranging from upgrades to the aircraft’s mission systems to engine improvements providing increased fuel efficiency and durability.
The first Airseeker commenced operations in July 2014 and is currently employed alongside other RAF units in the fight against ISIL supporting operations in Iraq and Syria.
In due course, it will undergo an upgrade programme to bring the aircraft in line with the improvements made on the second aircraft.
The Airseeker not only gathers data and vital intelligence using advanced sensor technology, but it is also able to carry out onboard analysis and distribute the information to be exploited by assets on the ground via its high-tech communications suite.)