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RC-135 Rivet Joint Surveillance Jet Just Flew Unprecedented Mission Off Mexico
TWZ ^

Posted on 02/04/2025 5:08:53 PM PST by TigerClaws

A U.S. Air Force RC-135V Rivet Joint conducted a highly unusual flight in the Gulf of California yesterday, between Mexico’s Baja Peninsula and the rest of that country, according to online flight tracking data. The strategic intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) plane looks to have done the same today.

The Rivet Joint is one of America’s most capable intelligence-gathering assets and the appearance of one off the Mexican coast is a significant development. This comes amid a major increase in U.S. military support for operations along the border with Mexico under President Donald Trump and talk of unprecedented direct action by American forces against drug cartels, which you can read more about in this separate TWZ feature.

Flight tracking software shows RC-135V serial number 64-14845 flew southwest from Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska to the skies over southern California on Feb. 3. Offutt is home to the 55th Wing, which oversees the bulk of the Air Force’s Rivet Joint fleet along with an array of other ISR and highly specialized command and control aircraft. The jet then hooked south along the Pacific coast of the Baja Peninsula before flying up into the Gulf of California. The aircraft subsequently returned to Offutt following the same route, but in reverse.

Despite how relatively narrow the Gulf of California is, there are international waters and airspace above at its center. There are no indications that 64-14845 ever entered Mexican national airspace in the course of any of these flights.

When queried about 64-14845’s activity off the coast of Mexico, the U.S. Air Force redirected TWZ to U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM). We have also reached out to the Mexican Embassy in Washington, D.C.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; Mexico; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: aviation; isr; mexico; rc135v; rivetjoint
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Step one: Secure the border.

Step two: Destroy the terrorist organizations in Mexico.

1 posted on 02/04/2025 5:08:53 PM PST by TigerClaws
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To: TigerClaws

info probably being sent to cartel right now


2 posted on 02/04/2025 5:14:28 PM PST by RummyChick
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To: TigerClaws

Reports are beginning to come in around here that the Cartels are using drones to drop explosive ordinances onto our side of the border.

No confirmation yet but it would not surprise me.


3 posted on 02/04/2025 5:14:45 PM PST by crz
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To: TigerClaws

Prepping for an action.


4 posted on 02/04/2025 5:15:40 PM PST by ImJustAnotherOkie
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To: crz

If true, very foolish.


5 posted on 02/04/2025 5:15:51 PM PST by maro (MAGA!)
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To: crz

Violation of our airspace, if so.


6 posted on 02/04/2025 5:16:40 PM PST by butterdezillion
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To: TigerClaws

This story was out yesterday. I was thinking maybe another flight.


7 posted on 02/04/2025 5:16:41 PM PST by Parley Baer
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To: TigerClaws

Good steps.


8 posted on 02/04/2025 5:16:44 PM PST by No name given ( Anonymous is who you’ll know me as)
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To: butterdezillion

It’s coming, folks, be prepared. Has to happen sooner or later, so might as well take care of it now.


9 posted on 02/04/2025 5:17:41 PM PST by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: All

For the Super Bowl there’s a THIRTY MILE “no drone” order out.

Must have had some intel.


10 posted on 02/04/2025 5:18:14 PM PST by TigerClaws
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To: maro

“If true, very foolish.”

You so not the Cartels to be punished?


11 posted on 02/04/2025 5:18:15 PM PST by Parley Baer
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To: TigerClaws
Step one: Secure the border.

Step two: Destroy the terrorist organizations in Mexico.

This!

1000 X This!

12 posted on 02/04/2025 5:20:08 PM PST by flamberge (The times, they are a' changing.)
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To: butterdezillion

You really think they care?

I doubt that they do.

I dunno where the hell you folks are at but if your not carrying, if i were you id start real quick

This is liable to go nationwide.


13 posted on 02/04/2025 5:20:15 PM PST by crz
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To: dfwgator

Like Merry and Gandalf looking across to the smoking mountain in Mordor.


14 posted on 02/04/2025 5:20:22 PM PST by butterdezillion
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To: crz

I know they don’t.

But it would be nice if their drones found out there’s a price gor stepping over the line.

I am praying for safety to innocents


15 posted on 02/04/2025 5:24:34 PM PST by butterdezillion
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To: TigerClaws
Will we be as bold with drone missiles on Mexican cartels as we have been with terrorists in the Middle East?


16 posted on 02/04/2025 5:25:36 PM PST by Magnum44 (...against all enemies, foreign and domestic... )
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To: butterdezillion

NewsNation reports that there was an incident of Cartel using bomb dropping drones on what appears to be another cartel convoy just on the Mexican side of the border.

I dunno how reliable that news channel is.

So..its close even so.

There are numerous cartels down thete. All of them are inhuman.


17 posted on 02/04/2025 5:30:56 PM PST by crz
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To: TigerClaws

I live 13 miles west of Offutt AFB where the Rivet Joints are based. I saw one when I was outside about 3pm central that was at a low altitude like it had just taken off headed toward the southwest and wondered if it was headed towards Cabo.


18 posted on 02/04/2025 5:31:58 PM PST by Big Red Clay (Greetings from the Big Red State )
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To: Parley Baer

I think trump convinced that woman to take on the cartels with his help


19 posted on 02/04/2025 5:33:58 PM PST by struggle
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To: flamberge
Step two: Destroy the terrorist organizations in Mexico.

Step 2 being ready for take off as we speak.


20 posted on 02/04/2025 5:34:11 PM PST by spokeshave (Proud Boys, Angry Dads. Grumpy Grandads & Curmudgeons)
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