Can you imagine trying to solve multiple puzzles at once, whilst sat in a pitch-black room? Seems difficult, right?
But what if you could pre-emptively turn a light on and see and analyse the puzzle you're trying to solve ahead of time. That way you can create and implement a strategy, this feels like it would make the challenge a lot easier.
That, in essence, is the ISTAR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance) group of assets for the RAF. It helps build the picture that allows the RAF to make informed decisions.
The broad set of assets operate in a symbiotic relationship between the ISTAR, RAF Regiment, Air Mobility Force and the Combat Air Force. They all help to inform one another and support the operational capability of each, delivering a layered and cohesive force.
You can view the layers like the construction of an arrow. The fast jets and Regiment are the tip, representing the sharp end, capable of delivering lethal force. The Air Mobility Force is the shaft, a cornerstone element, tasked with the delivery. Finally, ISTAR is the fletching, which stabilises the arrow during flight and ensures its accuracy.
Building the fleet
The RAF's ISTAR fleet is made up of five aircraft: the Rivet Joint, Protector, Poseidon, the E-7 Wedgetail and Shadow R1.
Rivet Joint, operated by 51 Squadron at RAF Waddington, is a reconnaissance aircraft that intercepts and analyses electronic and signals intelligence for military operations. It saw its first operational deployment through Project Airseeker in 2014, and more recently was deployed to Ørland, Norway, to demonstrate High North capability and improve NATO interoperability.
Protector is a highly advanced remotely piloted aircraft. With long endurance and precision strike capability, it supports missions such as surveillance, search and rescue, and armed operations alongside NATO and US forces. It also completed its first long range flight during June, flying from RAF Waddington to RAF Akrotiri. The flight covered 2,000 nautical miles through the airspace of France, Italy, Malta, and Greece, with the journey taking around 13.5 hours.
Poseidon provides maritime patrol and above- and below-water threat detection. Equipped with a suite of advanced acoustic and electronic sensors and 129 sonobuoys to detect submarines, it is armed with Mk54 torpedoes to engage enemy submarines. Since its first flight in 2020, Poseidon has supported the UK's national security by engaging with Russian ships and submarines entering UK waters and has deployed with allies and partners on exercises such as Dynamic Mongoose.
The E-7 Wedgetail is the Royal Air Force's next-generation airborne early warning and control aircraft, designed to deliver long-range surveillance, battle management, and command and control for air and joint operations.
Equipped with the Multi-Role Electronically Scanned Array (MESA), it provides radar coverage to detect and track air and maritime targets over vast distances, while coordinating fighter, tanker, and ISR assets in real time. The Wedgetail enhances interoperability with NATO partners and plays a critical role in integrated air and missile defence, making it a cornerstone of the UK's future ISTAR capability.
Finally, the Shadow is a highly adaptable tactical aircraft offering enhanced surveillance and intelligence capabilities. It provides tactical ISR capabilities with advanced sensors, satellite communication, and defensive aids. Built on the Beechcraft King Air 350, it aids global operations with improved altitude, speed, and range for broader surveillance coverage.
Necessity, the mother of all invention
Warfare has come a long way, from spears to swords to muskets to tanks to jets and now unmanned drones, but the need for intelligence has remained constant. As warfare has developed, so must the way the RAF gathers intelligence.
During the Second World War, the British Army Reconnaissance Corps would drive out in their jeeps towards the enemy to scout positions and check flanks. Now we have aircraft like the Wedgetail, Shadow and Rivet Joint to do the same thing.
As Air Commodore Rob points out, "modern warfare is no longer jet vs jet, it is much more like the film Ender's Game, where we are battling the battlespace, with threats from everywhere." This highlights why detailed and up-to-date intelligence is paramount to achieving mission objectives and keeping people safe.
The RAF doesn't operate alone. It trains and operates alongside NATO partners in exercises like Dynamic Mongoose, Red Flag and Orion, and on operations like Biloxi. Knowledge and intelligence sharing is therefore vital for collective safety and mission success, and a core capability of the ISTAR group is ensuring that intelligence can be shared with NATO partners in real time.
Turning the light on
Intelligence has always been, and will always be, vital. The ISTAR group specialises in helping the wider force make informed decisions, providing the capability to create and implement an effective strategy. They are, in effect, the light in the room, providing the answers to the puzzle before you even see it.
