# RAF Rivet Joint intelligence operations in Europe > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/raf-rivet-joint-intelligence-operations-in-europe > Updated: 2026-08-24T16:26:14.000Z. Sources: 3. Developments: 2. The Royal Air Force (RAF) has increased its intelligence-gathering presence in Northern and Eastern Europe. Initially, the RAF deployed a Rivet Joint intelligence aircraft to Ørland, Norway, for Exercise Arctic Stone to improve interoperability with the Royal Norwegian Air Force and enhance NATO’s defense posture in the High North. Following this, the RC-135W Rivet Joint conducted missions along the Finnish-Russian border and near Kaliningrad to monitor Russian military activity on NATO’s eastern flank. These missions involved collecting electromagnetic emissions, such as radar and communications signals, near St Petersburg and the Suwałki corridor. To support increased mission endurance for such intelligence aircraft, a multinational exercise involving the UK, US, and France successfully tested air-to-air refuelling between an RAF RC-135 Rivet Joint and a French A330 MRTT Phénix. ## Timeline ### 2026-08-24: RAF Rivet Joint conducts intelligence missions near Russia The RAF conducted intelligence missions near the Russian border as the UK and France move to enable domestic Storm Shadow missile production in Ukraine. Allied forces also improved RC-135 refuelling interoperat 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/raf-rivet-joint-conducts-intelligence-missions-near-russia ### 2026-08-19: RAF deploys Rivet Joint intelligence aircraft to Norway for Arctic Stone The RAF has deployed a Rivet Joint intelligence aircraft to Norway for Exercise Arctic Stone, focusing on F-35A integration and enhancing NATO intelligence capabilities in the Arctic region. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/raf-deploys-rivet-joint-intelligence-aircraft-to-norway-for-arctic-stone --- Cite as: RAF Rivet Joint intelligence operations in Europe. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/raf-rivet-joint-intelligence-operations-in-europe