Eyes in the skies at RIAT 2025: Every AWACS, patrol and spy plane on show
July 17, 2025
From high above the battlefield, deep over the ocean, or quietly circling thousands of feet overhead, today’s surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft play a vital role in modern defence and security.
RIAT will celebrate these unseen heroes of military aviation with its theme for 2025: Eyes in the Skies. The theme has brought forth some unusual, rare and unique aircraft for both the static and the flying display.
Here’s the remarkable array of airborne intelligence platforms set to be showcased at RIAT 2025.
The big AWACS aircraft at RIAT 2025
Visitors to RIAT25 will be treated to some of the most iconic and advanced Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft in service today.
These high-flying command posts act as the eyes and ears of modern air forces, capable of monitoring vast airspace, coordinating multi-domain operations, and tracking targets across land, sea, and sky.
Boeing E-3 Sentry
A standout participant in RIAT25’s ‘Eyes in the Skies’ theme, the French Air and Space Force will be bringing an E-3F Sentry for static display—a rare opportunity to see one of Europe’s premier airborne early warning aircraft up close.
Based on the Boeing 707-320B, the E-3F is instantly recognizable by its iconic rotating radar dome, capable of scanning vast airspace across multiple altitudes.
Operated by 36e EC2A from Avord Air Base, France’s four-strong fleet has been in continuous service since 1991, providing critical command and control capability in coalition operations and homeland defence alike.
Boeing Rivet Joint R1
Two RC-135 Rivet Joint aircraft will be appearing at this year’s Air Tattoo, one from the United States Air Force and one from the Royal Air Force.
Based on the KC-135 tanker, the Rivet Joint has been a cornerstone of airborne signals intelligence since the 1960s. The USAF example, an RC-135V from the 95th Reconnaissance Squadron at RAF Mildenhall, will be on static display.
In the flying display on Friday will be an RAF RC-135W Airseeker R1 from 51 Squadron at RAF Waddington. Operated by the RAF since 2011, the Airseeker provides real-time electronic surveillance in support of UK and allied operations—continuing a legacy of RAF SIGINT that dates back to the Cold War.
Boeing E-7 Wedgetail
Making its international public debut, the RAF’s new Boeing E-7 Wedgetail AEW1 will appear in the Friday flying display at RIAT25.
Based on the Boeing 737 and fitted with a distinctive top-mounted radar, the E-7 Wedgetail is the RAF’s next-generation Airborne Early Warning and Control platform, set to replace the retired E-3D Sentry fleet.
Capable of tracking air and sea targets simultaneously while providing advanced electronic surveillance, the E-7 is already in service with Australia, South Korea, and Turkey. The UK’s first three airframes are currently undergoing conversion and testing, with plans to base the fleet at RAF Lossiemouth.
Gulfstream G550
The Italian Air Force will be showcasing one of its advanced G550 AEW aircraft on static display. Operated by 14° Stormo from Pratica di Mare, this sleek platform combines Gulfstream’s long-range jet with Israel’s Conformal Airborne Early Warning (CAEW) system, featuring radar arrays along the fuselage, nose, and tail for 360-degree surveillance.
Initially delivered in 2018, Italy’s growing G550 fleet now includes additional AEW and signals intelligence variants, reflecting a shift toward smaller, more agile ISR platforms. Don’t be fooled by its business jet profile, the G550 AEW is a high-tech sentinel with serious capability.
The maritime patrol aircraft at RIAT
From submarine hunting to long-range search and rescue, maritime patrol aircraft remain essential sentinels over sea and coastline.
Visitors to RIAT25 will get a close look at both legacy and next-generation platforms that provide nations with vital overwatch and deterrence in the maritime domain.
Boeing P-8 Poseidon
The Royal Air Force will be displaying its state-of-the-art maritime patrol aircraft, the Poseidon MRA1, at RIAT25. One aircraft from 120 Squadron will be on static display, while a second will feature in the flying display across the weekend.
Based on the Boeing 737-800, the P-8A Poseidon is equipped with advanced sensors, radar, and anti-submarine weaponry, giving it a formidable edge in maritime surveillance and reconnaissance.
Its introduction restored the RAF’s long-range maritime patrol capability following the retirement of the Nimrod, and it now plays a critical role in securing UK waters from its base at RAF Lossiemouth.
Bréguet Atlantique 2
The French Navy has brought an ATL2 Atlantique 2 from Flottille 23F, which will be making an extremely rare flying display during the airshow. Designed specifically for maritime patrol, the ATL2 is equipped with sonar buoys, a magnetic anomaly detector, and a versatile internal weapons bay, making it a true multi-role maritime workhorse.
Evolving from the original Bréguet Atlantic of the 1960s, the ATL2 has been continuously modernized, most recently gaining the same advanced radar as the Rafale fighter. With its distinctive profile and powerful sensor suite, the ATL2 remains a vital long-range eye over the ocean, expected to serve well into the next decade.
ATR P-72A
The Italian Air Force will showcase its P-72A maritime patrol aircraft on static display. This military variant of the ATR 72 turboprop is equipped with advanced radar, electro-optical sensors, satellite communications, and a self-protection suite.
Replacing the long-serving Bréguet Atlantic in 2017, the P-72A represents a modern, multi-mission solution for surveillance over land and sea.
Islander is a rugged, twin-engine STOL aircraft beloved for its ability to access remote and island airfields. In its SAR configuration, it proves just how adaptable this iconic British design remains six decades on.
ATR 42MP
The Italian Coast Guard will present an ATR 42MP-400 maritime patrol aircraft on static display. Based on the ATR 42 regional airliner, this multi-role platform has been adapted for coastal surveillance, search and rescue coordination, and maritime security.
Operated by a small but capable fleet, the ATR 42MP features radar, sensors, and communications systems tailored to monitoring Italy’s vast maritime zones.
Lockheed CP-140 Aurora
The Royal Canadian Air Force will showcase a CP-140M Aurora from 405 Squadron. Based on the P-3 Orion but equipped with the advanced electronics of the S-3 Viking, the Aurora has served as Canada’s premier long-range maritime patrol aircraft since 1980.
Now upgraded to CP-140M standard, the Aurora plays a critical role in surveillance, search and rescue, and counter-narcotics missions. With 18 aircraft still in service and potential retirement delayed to 2040, the CP-140M remains a vital eye in the sky for Canada’s coastal defence and global operations.
Tactical and utility surveillance
Not all eyes in the sky come in large packages. This diverse collection of smaller aircraft proves that utility platforms, from bush planes to executive turboprops, play an essential role in surveillance, mapping, calibration, and special missions in today’s operational landscape.
Britten Norman Islander
A true “eye in the sky” for maritime rescue, the Channel Islands Air Search Islander will be on static display at RIAT25. Based in Guernsey, this heavily modified BN-2 Islander supports life-saving missions across the Channel using radar, night vision, and visual search aids to locate those in distress and guide rescuers in.
Developed on the Isle of Wight and in production since 1965, the Islander is a rugged, twin-engine STOL aircraft beloved for its ability to access remote and island airfields. In its SAR configuration, it proves just how adaptable this iconic British design remains six decades on.
Lockheed U-2 Dragon Lady
Nicknamed the Dragon Lady, the Lockheed U-2 is one of the most legendary reconnaissance aircraft ever built. First flown in 1955 from Groom Lake, better known as Area 51, the U-2 was designed to fly above 70,000 feet and gather intelligence from unreachable altitudes.
Today, the U-2 remains in frontline service with the USAF’s 99th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron, including a permanent detachment at RAF Fairford. At RIAT25, one of Fairford’s resident U-2S aircraft will be on static display, while a second will perform in the flying display on Saturday and Sunday—an unmissable appearance by one of aviation’s most enduring ‘eyes in the sky’.
Grob 520
Grob Aircraft will showcase the G520NG, a modern evolution of its high-altitude surveillance platform originally developed in the 1980s. Designed for persistent, cost-effective intelligence gathering, the G520 series has seen global use by scientific and government agencies alike.
The G520NG features upgraded avionics, a more powerful engine, and can even be flown remotely. With its spacious payload bay and long endurance, it offers a flexible, satellite-alternative platform for missions ranging from environmental monitoring to ISR.
Reims-Cessna F406 Caravan II
Airtask Group will showcase one of its specially modified Reims-Cessna F406 Caravan II aircraft at RIAT25. This twin-turboprop platform supports fisheries enforcement, environmental monitoring, and range safety operations over the Hebrides and beyond.
Originally developed from the Cessna 402/404 series, the F406’s twin-engine design makes it ideal for extended patrols over remote maritime areas.
Airtask operates two of these aircraft on behalf of the Scottish Government, Ministry of Defence, and QinetiQ, offering a reliable, all-weather eye in the sky for both civilian and military operations.
Beechcraft King Air
Two examples of the ever-versatile Beechcraft King Air will feature in the static display. First flying in 1972, the Super King Air 200 introduced a larger fuselage and distinctive T-tail to the original design, and went on to serve widely in military roles under the C-12 Huron designation.
A modified 350i operated by Flight Precision Ltd is used in UK airspace calibration and aerial photography, while Metrea’s Special Aerospace division flies the “Swift Eye” variant on contracted ISR missions worldwide, capable of remaining airborne for up to 10 hours.
Pilatus PC-12
The Irish Air Corps will once again provide one of their versatile PC-12NG aircraft for static display. Operated by 104 Squadron of the 1st Operations Wing, the PC-12 serves a wide range of roles, from logistics and air ambulance tasks to surveillance and intelligence support, including missions in North Africa.
Built by Pilatus in Switzerland, the PC-12 is a rugged, single-engine turboprop with a large cargo door and all-weather capability. With over 2,000 delivered globally and a growing military footprint, the PC-12 has proven itself a reliable and capable platform.
Let 410 Turbolet
The Czech Air Force will present a rare reconnaissance-configured Let L-410FG on static display. One of only two in service, this unique variant features a distinctive glass nose and is fitted with Leica cameras and a CCNS-5 flight control system for precision aerial mapping and surveillance missions.
Originally developed in Czechoslovakia in the late 1960s, the L-410 series has earned a global reputation for rugged short-field performance. The FG variant represents a specialist evolution of this versatile platform, still proving its worth today as a reliable and capable eye in the sky.
Historic eyes in the skies at RIAT
While the skies over RIAT25 will be filled with cutting-edge surveillance platforms, the show is also shining a spotlight on the aircraft that pioneered airborne intelligence and reconnaissance.
Lovingly restored and still airworthy, these aircraft offer a rare glimpse into the ingenuity and bravery that defined earlier generations of aerial surveillance.
Lockheed L-12A
Participating at RIAT 2025 is a beautifully restored Lockheed L-12A Electra Junior, G-AFTL, a rare survivor of one of aviation’s lesser-known reconnaissance platforms. Smaller and faster than the more familiar Model 10, the L-12 found favour in the 1930s as a sleek corporate and government transport before taking on more secretive duties.
Used during World War II for transport, reconnaissance, and even bomber training, the L-12 also played a covert role in pre-war intelligence gathering. G-AFTL itself was once part of a clandestine British operation to photograph enemy installations while disguised as a civilian aircraft.
Now flying again from Sywell, this historic airframe returns to the spotlight as a fascinating glimpse into the early days of aerial surveillance.
Piaggio P.166C
The Piaggio P.166C on static display is the last flying example of its kind in Italy, a rare survivor of this distinctive, twin-boom utility aircraft. Originally built as a P.166B, it was converted by Piaggio into the prototype of the stretched 12-seat P.166C variant and painstakingly restored by two Italian Air Force officers, returning to flight in 2011.
Developed from the P.136 floatplane, the P.166 series served both civil and military roles across the globe, including photographic and patrol duties for Italy’s Air Force and Coast Guard. With its unique configuration and versatile design, this historic aircraft stands as a tribute to decades of maritime surveillance and utility operations.
Supermarine Spitfire
Two rare photo-reconnaissance Spitfires will take to the skies in a special flying display, showcasing the evolution of one of Britain’s most iconic aircraft. Spitfire PR.XI PL983, operated by the Aircraft Restoration Company, will be joined in a unique pairs routine by Griffon-powered PR.XIX PS853 from the Rolls-Royce Heritage Flight.
Built for speed and altitude, the PR.XI was developed to capture vital intelligence from over 30,000 feet. PL983, one of just two airworthy PR.XIs, famously flew ‘THANK U NHS’ missions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Together, these two aircraft embody the Spitfire’s lesser-known but critical role as a high-altitude eye in the sky during WWII.
Consolidated PBY Catalina
A true icon of maritime patrol and rescue, the PBY Catalina operated by Plane Sailing is Europe’s only flying example. This lovingly restored aircraft—nicknamed Miss Pick Up—serves as a flying memorial to the crews who once hunted submarines and saved lives over vast oceans.
With its distinctive side blisters and long endurance, the Catalina was the definitive World War II patrol flying boat, famed for roles in anti-submarine warfare, convoy protection, and air-sea rescue, including spotting the Bismarck. G-PBYA continues that legacy today, offering a rare chance to see up close one of history’s most effective airborne sentinels.
Which eyes in the skies will be flying during RIAT 2025?
Several of these iconic surveillance aircraft will be flying during the airshow.
Visitors on Friday will be treated to displays from both the RAF Boeing E-7 Wedgetail and the RC-135 Rivet Joint.
The Atlantique 2 and P-8 Poseidon will be flying on both Saturday and Sunday. In a real treat for attendees, the USAF U-2S Dragon Lady will also take to the skies on both weekend days.
The Supermarine Spitfires will fly together in a special pairs display, although the show hasn’t confirmed on which days these will fly.
Everything else listed is on static display, giving visitors a rare chance to get up close and personal with these rare beasts.
