U.S. RC-135W Rivet Joint reconnaissance aircraft conducts intelligence mission near Venezuela.

Open-source flight tracking data shows a U.S. Air Force RC-135W Rivet Joint flying a prolonged intelligence mission near Venezuela on January 6, 2026, operating in international airspace over the Caribbean Sea. The sortie underscores a sustained tempo of U.S. electronic surveillance in the region amid ongoing geopolitical and security monitoring.

According to open-source flight tracking data and regional air activity monitoring accounts, the United States Air Force deployed an RC-135W Rivet Joint intelligence aircraft on January 6, 2026, to conduct extended electronic surveillance operations near Venezuela’s coastline. The aircraft operated exclusively in international airspace over the Caribbean Sea, following a flight profile consistent with signals intelligence collection missions observed during the opening days of January.
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The RC-135V and RC-135W Rivet Joint variants are among the most capable airborne signals intelligence platforms operated by the U.S. Air Force, providing theater and national-level commanders with near real-time on-scene intelligence collection, analysis, and dissemination. (Picture source: US DoD)

The aircraft involved in the latest operation was an RC-135W Rivet Joint bearing tail number 64-14848. Flight data indicates the aircraft departed from Homestead Air Reserve Base in Florida and remained on station near Venezuelan airspace until at least 21:50 UTC, corresponding to early evening local time in Caracas. The extended loiter time and racetrack flight profile strongly suggest an intensive signals intelligence mission focused on monitoring electronic emissions across northern Venezuela and adjacent maritime approaches.

Regional aviation monitoring sources tracking military activity in the Caribbean reported that U.S. electronic surveillance operations in the area remain continuous, noting that RC-135 aircraft have maintained a near-constant presence along the Venezuelan periphery in recent days. The observed operational rhythm closely mirrors reconnaissance flights conducted earlier this month, when U.S. intelligence activity around Venezuela noticeably increased.

The RC-135V and RC-135W Rivet Joint variants are among the most capable airborne signals intelligence platforms operated by the U.S. Air Force, providing theater and national-level commanders with near real-time on-scene intelligence collection, analysis, and dissemination. Designed to operate close to areas of military interest while remaining in international airspace, the Rivet Joint plays a central role in building an electronic picture of adversary capabilities during periods of heightened tension or conflict.

Technically, the RC-135W is an extensively modified C-135 airframe whose defining features are concentrated in its sophisticated onboard sensor and communications suite. These modifications allow the aircraft’s mission crew to detect, identify, classify, and geolocate signals across the electromagnetic spectrum, including air defense radars, military radios, data links, and command-and-control emissions. Once collected and analyzed, this information can be transmitted in multiple formats via secure communications systems to a wide range of consumers, from tactical units to national intelligence agencies, often while the aircraft remains on station.

The Rivet Joint’s interior is configured to support a large, highly specialized crew, with seating for more than 30 personnel. This includes the cockpit flight crew, electronic warfare officers, intelligence operators, and in-flight maintenance technicians who ensure continuous mission availability during long-duration sorties. Depending on operational requirements, a typical mission crew consists of five flight crew members supported by between 21 and 27 mission specialists, reflecting the aircraft’s role as a flying intelligence fusion center rather than a traditional reconnaissance platform.

The entire RC-135V/W fleet has undergone significant modernization over its service life. All Rivet Joint aircraft have been re-engined with CFM International F108-CF-201 high-bypass turbofan engines, each producing 21,600 pounds of thrust. These engines, combined with upgraded flight deck instrumentation and navigation systems, brought the aircraft into compliance with modern FAA and ICAO standards, including the transition from analog instruments to a digital glass cockpit configuration. Oversight of all airframe and mission system modifications is managed by L-3 Communications, formerly Raytheon, under the authority of Air Force Materiel Command.

From a performance standpoint, the RC-135W has a wingspan of 131 feet, a length of 135 feet, and a maximum takeoff weight of approximately 297,000 pounds. It can cruise at speeds exceeding 500 miles per hour, operate at altitudes up to 50,000 feet, and achieve a range of roughly 3,900 miles, with aerial refueling capability further extending its endurance. Its fuel capacity of about 130,000 pounds supports prolonged missions, often lasting many hours, which is consistent with the extended on-station time observed during the latest Caribbean sortie.

The current RC-135 fleet represents the latest evolution of a platform lineage dating back to 1962. Originally employed by Strategic Air Command to meet national intelligence requirements during the Cold War, RC-135 aircraft have participated in every major U.S. conflict since the Vietnam War. They have supported operations ranging from Vietnam and Grenada to Desert Storm, Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Inherent Resolve, maintaining an almost uninterrupted presence in Southwest Asia since the early 1990s.

Today, all RC-135 aircraft are assigned to Air Combat Command and permanently based at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, where they are operated by the 55th Wing. From there, they deploy forward worldwide to support combatant commanders. Beyond the Middle East, Rivet Joint aircraft have also supported NATO operations in Kosovo, Libya during Operation Unified Protector, and ongoing intelligence missions near Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea.

The renewed RC-135 activity near Venezuela comes as U.S. forces maintain an elevated operational posture in the Caribbean following recent American military actions in the region. While U.S. officials rarely comment publicly on individual intelligence missions, the deployment of a high-value Rivet Joint aircraft signals a clear priority on monitoring Venezuelan military communications, air defense readiness, and command structures. As in other regions of strategic tension, the presence of the RC-135 underscores Washington’s reliance on advanced airborne signals intelligence to shape situational awareness, manage escalation, and inform decision-making without crossing sovereign airspace.

Written By Erwan Halna du Fretay - Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group

Erwan Halna du Fretay is a graduate of a Master’s degree in International Relations and has experience in the study of conflicts and global arms transfers. His research interests lie in security and strategic studies, particularly the dynamics of the defense industry, the evolution of military technologies, and the strategic transformation of armed forces.