An American strategic aircraft RC-135V/W Rivet Joint made its first flight in Finnish airspace. Such missions can become ordinary after the country Suomi is admitted to NATO.
What is known
As part of its debut sortie in Finnish airspace, the RC-135V / W Rivet Joint flew along almost the entire border with Russia. The Finnish Defense Forces said the aircraft was the first U.S. military reconnaissance-level manned/unmanned aerial vehicle to perform a planned mission in the country’s airspace. The maneuvers were coordinated with the government.
Together with important international partners, the Swedish Armed Forces carry out surveillance flights in Finnish airspace. The first flight is carried out #together with the United States on Thursday, March 23. https://t.co/dNlGgETdUu
— Defense Forces (@Poolustusvoimat) March 23, 2023
RC-135V / W Rivet Joint with serial number 62-4131 took off from the air base of the Royal Air Force of Great Britain “Mildenhall” (Mildenhall). It crossed the British Channel and flew over the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia before entering Finnish airspace. All countries (except Finland) are members of NATO.
The plane made several turns along the border with Russia and approached a distance of several tens of kilometers to St. Petersburg. Then the RC-135V / W Rivet Joint returned to the RAF base along the same route.
The purpose of the mission is currently unknown. On board the RC-135V / W Rivet Joint, sensors are installed that allow you to find out information about the radar of the enemy air defense system, including their location.
This data may be of interest to NATO, the US and Finland. Last year, Russia announced the withdrawal of troops from the Finnish border. They were transferred to Ukraine. At the same time, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced its desire to create a large land formation in the Republic of Karelia.
In addition, the American RC-135V / W Rivet Joint reconnaissance aircraft could collect information in the Gulf of Finland. This is the only route by which Russian ships enter the Atlantic Ocean in transit through the North Sea and the Baltic Sea.
Source: The War Zone
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